COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hundreds of young girls gathered in downtown Columbus Saturday morning for the annual Girls on the Run 5K.
Taking place at Columbus Commons, girls and other community members had the chance to take part in the race and enjoy other activities like games and face painting.
Girls on the Run is a national organization aimed at inspiring and empowering young girls. The goal is to connect girls in grades 3rd through 8th, helping them build confidence and other important life skills.
The program started in 1996 with 13 girls in one school and has grown to over 2 million girls nationwide and counting.
Jeanette Johnson, a coach at Berwick Alternative K-8 School, said she became involved with Girls on the Run because of what the organization is all about.
"Giving our girls that girl power to believe that they can do anything they want to do and accomplish anything they want to accomplish," Johnson said. "No matter how they do their run, as long as they're crossing the finish line, that's the ultimate goal."
Wake Up CBUS reporter Amy Steigerwald emceed Saturday's event.
Johnson encourages any young girl in central Ohio who isn't yet involved with Girls on the Run to sign up now.
"This is one of the things I look forward to every year. Coming out and seeing some of our girls conquer their biggest fear," she said. "To me, this means the world to see our girls cross the finish line, holding hands and hugging each other as they go over the line."
The next Girls on the Run 5K will take place in the spring.
October marked the 15th anniversary of Girls on the Run in central Ohio, and to date, they’ve impacted more than 17,000 girls in our community.
Find out more about Girls on the Run here.