What Makes a Good Friend?  YOU!

Since Fall 2011, bringing Girls on the Run to Maine has been a true team effort. Many energetic friends attended Steering Committee meetings, responded to countless e-mails, shared ideas and, most importantly, believed in and worked hard to make our dream a reality.

Because it truly does take a village, two of our original leaders, Emily Flowers and Valerie Costello (“Em and Val”) have formed “The Friends of GOTR-ME” to celebrate and retain all of the incredible people who  helped launch GOTR-ME, and to welcome new friends who would like to support GOTR-ME moving forward. As GOTR-ME looks to expand beyond Portland, the Friends of GOTR-ME will be essential to supporting that growth.

So, what makes a good “Friend?”

First, Friends stay INVOLVED!

When I first learned about Girls on the Run, I thought, “I wish I could have done a program like that when I was young!”  Now, I realize that many of us have that same reaction.

Whether you were the girl who wasn’t popular or wasn’t athletic, or maybe your parents were divorcing or you did unsafe things to please your friends.  Either way, Girls on the Run strikes a chord.  Through the program, girls, coaches and parents learn that, we all have inner strength and beauty.  Each of us can (still!) access our limitless potential.

I was a juvenile defender, a teen mentor and a women’s running coach.  I am also a life-long runner and mom to four young children.  Each experience has reinforced my belief in the transformative qualities of exercise and role modeling.   

When I learned about Girls on the Run three years ago, Maine didn’t have a program.  I knew I had to change that.  Now, I am so excited to tell Maine gir