Years ago, I stood at a Girls on the Run 5K finish line watching a girl cross it for the first time — her arms raised, eyes wide, and smile unstoppable.
But what I’ll never forget is what her mom said to me afterward:
“She’s been struggling. We weren’t sure anything could reach her. But this program gave her something I couldn’t — it gave her herself back.”
I’ve seen it again and again. Girls who start out quiet, anxious, withdrawn. Girls who have been bullied, broken, overwhelmed.
And then… they move. They laugh. They find strength.
They begin to believe again.
This is what moving for mental health looks like. And it’s why today — right now — I’m asking you to help us keep that movement going.
💛 TODAY IS MAY 13 — VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS
It’s Give Local Piedmont — and we’re in the middle of the Rise & Shine Challenge.
If we receive the most unique donations between 6–7 AM, we’ll win $1,000 — enough to cover 5K shoes, scholarships, coach training, and mental health tools for dozens of girls.
And I need your help.
🎯 Your $5 today = A vote for girls. A vote for youth mental health.
🎯 It says: We see you. We believe in you. You matter.
Even if you’ve already given — ask a friend to give. Ask your spouse, your neighbor, your running buddy.
👉 Donate now: www.givelocalpiedmont.org/gotrpiedmont
⏰ The deadline is midnight tonight — every dollar counts.
🏃♀️ Why Movement Matters So Much
We’re not just giving girls a place to run.
We’re giving them:
– A way to reconnect with their bodies
– Tools to cope with stress and anxiety
– Safe relationships with mentors who see their worth
Here’s what research — and real life — tells us:
– Girls’ physical activity declines by age 10
– Social media and pressure take its place
– Confidence drops, anxiety rises
At Girls on the Run, we reverse that trend.
We help girls move in a way that’s joyful, free, and healing.
And we do it without judgment, without pressure, and without leaving anyone behind.
📣 Make Your Gift. Change Her Story.
We are on a mission to change the State of the Girl.
Your gift today helps make that happen.
🌟 It's more than exercise.
🌟 It’s more than a finish line.
🌟 It’s her future.
👉 www.givelocalpiedmont.org/gotrpiedmont
Thank you for rising early and rising strong with us today.