There’s something special happening after school at Lakeview Elementary in Colonial Heights — something filled with laughter, energy, teamwork, and a whole lot of confidence. This spring, Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond celebrated its first full year at Lakeview, and the impact was nothing short of heartwarming.
At a recent Colonial Heights School Board meeting, Lakeview students, coaches, and GOTR staff shared personal reflections from their time in the program, highlighting the far-reaching benefits of the GOTR experience. A 3rd grader who participated last fall enthusiastically summed up her thoughts:
“My favorite part was everything, because we worked together to get stronger. We did things we didn’t know we could do.”
Another student lit up the room with her words:
“Girls on the Run gave me ways to stay active and also helped me make new friends. It made me feel good about myself. I felt accomplished and confident when I was able to finish the 5K.”
Coach Melissa Chance, a Lakeview teacher and one of the program’s biggest champions, added, “It was definitely the best part of the day when we had those sessions.”
That feeling of joy, accomplishment, and community is exactly what Girls on the Run is all about. The program uses running and movement as a springboard for building confidence, friendships, and life skills in girls from 3rd through 8th grade.
Lakeview is just one of several schools across the Tri-Cities and South Chesterfield region to embrace Girls on the Run in recent years. Since 2023, more than 200 girls have participated in the program at schools including Pleasants Lane, Lakemont, Walnut Hill, Ettrick, Enon, Carver Middle, and now Lakeview.
And the momentum is only growing.
Next up? GOTR is expanding to North Elementary in Colonial Heights, as well as new sites in Hopewell and Prince George.
“We believe every girl deserves a space where she can build her confidence, be active, connect with her peers, and have fun,” said Catherine Estevez, Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond. “We’re thrilled to see this mission taking root at Lakeview and look forward to deepening our impact across the Tri-Cities.”
This growth is made possible through strong partnerships with local school divisions, the Cameron Foundation, Kiwanis, Parks and Recreation departments, and many other generous community supporters.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or community member, there are so many ways to get involved with Girls on the Run:
Girls on the Run is more than a running program. It’s a movement —one that helps girls unlock their strength, discover joy in who they are, and cheer each other on every step of the way. And we are excited to share that this movement is picking up speed!
Learn more at gotrrichmond.org/start-team or reach out to info@gotrrichmond.org.