From the first to cross the finish line to the very last, the 30 local girls who took part in the Run for Fun five-kilometre challenge proved they were winners.
The 10-week Run for Fun program teamed girls aged eight to 15 years with mentors from the RCMP, Prince George Community Policing and RCMP Victim Services. Together they trained twice a week to run the five-kilometre challenge held on Saturday.
But the program was about a lot more than running and physical fitness, mentor Cst. Amanda Stockdale said.
"They also learned about self-esteem, nutrition, drug and alcohol awareness, personal safety, internet safety, gang awareness and yoga," Stockdale said. "They met twice a a week, for about an hour, and increased their distance from two kilometres to five kilometres."
The culmination of the program was the five-kilometre run at Fort George Park on Saturday, but the lessons learned will last a lifetime.
With the success of the program, a second class is tentatively scheduled to take place this fall.
For more information or to sign up for the program, call Stockdale at the Prince George RCMP detachment at 250-561-3300.
- With files from Mark Nielsen
