BY KAREN BOSSICK
Girls on the Run will hold a free screening of Disney’s movie “Queen of Katwe” at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the Wood River High School Performing Arts Center.
The film portrays the true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess. With the support of her family and community she gains the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.
The inspiring film will help kick off the 2018 fall season for the local Girls on the Run organization.
The fall season begins Monday, Sept. 10. Registration is open for third- through fifth graders. And it’s open for six- through eighth-graders who wish to participate in a program dubbed Heart & Sole, as well.
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program dedicated to encouraging girls to pursue their dreams.
The 10-week program, which meets for 75 minutes after school, teaches life skills through lessons and running games. It also fosters team building and community service. At the end of the season, the girls run together with the goal of completing a 5K running event.
The fee for the elementary school program is $115 and scholarships are available. The Heart & Sole program, which meets twice a week at Wood River Middle School, costs $150, and scholarships are available.
Girls on the Run can always use more coaches. And the coaches who participate say they get more than they receive.
“During my coaching experience I was surprised by how perceptive the girls are—at 9!” said Lindsay Larrivee. “When analyzing media, the girls very articulately described the true drivers that ads are designed around, such as the girls' wishes to 'fit in', 'be pretty', or 'have a perfect life.' They apply this same perception to everyone and everything they encounter, which made me behave more real with them, because they would have seen right through anything else.”
Coaches must be 18 years old to serve as an assistant coach or 21 years old to serve as head coach.
For more information, go to http://www.girlsontherunwrv.org.