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Girls Going the Distance
Reyes Elementary Students Train to Run and Empower Themselves
Posted on 11/17/2017
This is the image for the news article titled Reyes Elementary Students Train to Run and Empower ThemselvesGirls at Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary School are running to learn and be empowered thanks to several local health and leadership organizations around El Paso.

The Junior League of El Paso partnered with the El Paso Center Against Sexual and Family Violence to bring a Girls on the Run council to El Paso. According to Jessica Arvizu, an advocate with the Center, Girls Going the Distance is a life skills development pilot program based on the Girls on the Run model. Through a mentoring relationship centered on running, the program uses dynamic, interactive lessons and running games, to inspire and motivate girls and encourage lifelong health and fitness and build confidence through accomplishment.

RES Assistant Principal Jessica Melendez-Carrillo said they have about 35 3rd-5th grade girls in the 10-week program that is designed to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, using various lessons addressing self-care, self-esteem, positive relationships and empowerment.

At the end of the program, the girls will participate in the Flying Horse 5K Race organized by Race El Paso November 18, 2017 in Anthony, Texas and New Mexico. Junior League member Danielle Adams was on hand to train and run with the girls.

“This is about empowering girls to not only be physical, healthy and strong but also brings the goal of accomplishing something,” Adams said. “The girls are going to be awesome in this run!”

The girls also received generous donations of brand new running shoes, socks and t-shirts from the Braden Aboud Memorial Foundation while Race El Paso provided the girls discounted registration fees for the race.

“Reyes Elementary is so excited to have this program here this year and appreciates all the effort from every organization that made this possible for the girls,” Melendez-Carrillo said.