Asheville, NC - July 5, 2012 - Girls on the Run of WNC recently welcomed Amy Renigar as its first full-time Executive Director.  Renigar came from the American Cancer Society after five years, where she worked across seven counties in WNC as a Community Manager. Prior to her work at the Society, she focused her efforts on children (running a supervised visitation center in Dayton, OH and serving as a children’s counselor in Hazard, KY).

Former director, Audrey McElwain, left the organization’s staff after 3 ½ years to focus on her family. Under McElwain, the program grew from serving 200 girls in 2006 to over 875 girls in 2011. McElwain saw the organization through its 10 Year Anniversary Celebration, which proudly recognized the organization’s impact of serving over 6,400 girls across Western North Carolina.

Girls on the Run® is a non-profit character-development program with a mission to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The 12-week, 24-lesson program for girls in grades 3-8 combines training for a non-competitive 5k (3.1 miles) running event with self-esteem building, uplifting team exercise activities and a community service project. As a result of the program, girls are empowered with a greater self-awareness, a sense of achievement and a foundation in team building to help them become strong, contented and self-confident young women.

GOTR of WNC serves fourteen counties in WNC, including Cherokee, Clay, Jackson, Graham, Haywood, Macon and Swain. The organization hopes to expand the number of sites offering the program in the far western counties to ensure all girls, regardless of geography, have an opportunity to participate.

Anyone interested in learning more or becoming involved with GOTR is invited to attend an Open House on Tuesday, July 24 at Franklin Health and Fitness Center (1214 East Main Street, Franklin, NC). Potential volunteers, site contacts and interested parents are encouraged to stop by between 4:30p.m. – 6:00 p.m. You do not have to be a member of the Fitness Center or a runner to attend or volunteer.

Site Applications are being accepted now through August 1^st for schools and/or community centers serving girls in grades 3^rd -8^th.  More information is available at www.gotrwnc.org or by calling 828-713-4290.