Running Program Helps Metro Atlanta Girls Build Confidence and Lifelong Friendships

Girls across metro Atlanta are lacing up their running shoes and discovering confidence, friendship, and self-esteem through Girls on the Run, a national organization designed to empower young girls through physical activity.

Participants Kennedy Barnes and Lillian Peters, both from Buckhead, say the program has had a meaningful impact on their lives. Girls on the Run combines running with lessons focused on healthy habits, goal-setting, and positive self-worth. One of the organization’s signature events is a 5K run, which encourages girls to support one another while working toward a shared goal.

Barnes says the program has helped her grow both physically and mentally. She credits Girls on the Run with improving her endurance and confidence, skills she says have carried over into other activities like soccer.

For Peters, the biggest takeaway has been the sense of community. She says she quickly made friends and felt welcomed by other participants, describing the program as kind, inclusive, and supportive.

Founded in 1996, Girls on the Run has served more than 2.5 million girls nationwide. The organization offers programs for girls in third through eighth grade across Georgia and the United States, focusing on teamwork, emotional growth, and building confidence that extends far beyond the finish line.

Program leaders say the goal is not just to create stronger runners, but to help girls develop life skills that stay with them as they grow.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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