“She earned every step!”
We believe that every Girl on the Run is full of limitless potential and an important member to the Girls on the Run team! Evelyn was one of 2,800 Girls on the Run part of our spring season. The now viral video that was shared following the May Girls on the Run St. Louis 5k has inspired thousands and we are excited to introduce you to the incredible Girl on the Run who, as her parents Ryan and Allison explained “earned every step!”
Evelyn is ten years-old and a rising 4th grader at Concord Elementary in the Lindbergh School District. Evelyn has an infectious smile and radiates joy! Program Coordinator, Kate Miller, visited the GOTR Concord team and met Evelyn who is “a bubbly, welcome includer who made sure everyone felt part of the practice and team.” She is a social butterfly who loves running, swimming, listening to music, cooking, petting dogs and traveling to new places for family adventures.
Like her peers, Evelyn wants to be part of something – an activity, a team – something to participate in and have fun, as well. Evelyn’s family learned about GOTR through the principal’s newsletter, but hesitated to register Evelyn, apprehensive it would be heavily running focused. “It can be challenging finding activities or programs in which Evelyn can keep up, enjoys and feels like she fits in.” However, when educator and GOTR Head Coach Jaime Maher reached out and assured Evelyn's family that she was welcome and an integral part of the GOTR team, they signed her up.
Quickly, Evelyn and her family learned that “Girls on the Run was so much more than just running!” With a curriculum that makes concepts accessible to every participant, as well as journals and a community impact project, the twice weekly practices became far more than running. “Evelyn looked forward to every practice. In addition to the running and walking she loved building relationships with other students in the school and learned more about living a healthy lifestyle. It was refreshing to see how inclusive this program was for Evelyn from start to finish. Girls with all different kinds of abilities are welcome and the girls were very encouraging of each other.” The Girls on the Run curriculum is built to be inclusive, and no major accommodations need to be made for children with different needs. This helps kiddos like Evelyn feel truly included and part of the team, which can be difficult to find elsewhere.
One of the lessons that Evelyn and her 35 teammates at Concord Elementary learned together was that each of them is like a star in the sky; the stars may look similar but are actually unlike any other around it. The girls visualize a star shining bright inside of them, bright with the powerful light of their own uniqueness. Evelyn and her teammates learned that with this star comes power: no one can take away their brightness or the individual things they bring to the world when they activate their Star Power!
That Star Power was shining bright at the 5k on May 11 in Forest Park! In fact, prior to the start, Evelyn began the “Girls on the Run is so much fun!” cheer to help everyone feel encouraged and able to let their Star Power shine, too.
One of the Girls on the Run Core Values is to stand up for ourselves and others. Evelyn and her family live this core value and continue to advocate locally and nationally for inclusive programming and policy changes, including participating in the National Down Syndrome Congress, advocating for an improved world for individuals with Down syndrome. “We’re so inspired by Evelyn and feel called to improve the quality of life for Evelyn, for our family, and for other families with special needs. We’re so grateful for the work and fight that other families with special needs have weathered to pave the way and we feel called to continue those efforts. It’s one thing to assume inclusion is taking place, even with supporting policy in place, but it’s another thing to ensure real inclusion is taking place, making sure it’s being lived out and that policies are recognized and followed appropriately. It’s been so encouraging to see how welcoming and empowering Girls on the Run has been for Evelyn.”
As any Girl on the Run will tell you, the finish line is just the beginning! Since the 5k, Evelyn has continued to invite her family to join her for a walk or run. She continues to keep the Girls on the Run pace: forward!
We are grateful that Evelyn and her family are part of the Girls on the Run St. Louis community.
Video and photo credit to Ryan Gallagher - rgallagherphoto.com