Girls On The Run Western Colorado Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Girls on the Run (GOTR) Western Colorado, a major milestone for the organization. Since its inception in Grand Junction, the organization has grown to make a significant impact on young girls across the Western Slope.

A nonprofit organization, GOTR creates after-school, physical activity-based youth development programs for elementary and middle school girls. Girls on the Run is the program designed for third through fifth grade girls, while sixth through eighth grade girls participate in Heart & Sole. Both programs focus on building social and emotional skills, connecting with the community and building healthy exercise habits in a positive environment. “The girls are empowered through meaningful team interactions and a curriculum that inspires every girl to recognize her limitless potential,” says executive director Emily Moen Eastham. “Girls on the Run provides a safe, encouraging space for girls to thrive.” While “run” may be in the title, GOTR focuses on building a positive, inclusive community for young girls to learn and grow.

Girls on the Run Spring 5K in Fruita. Photo by Duane Lofton.

GOTR Western Colorado began in 2000, with only 45 girls and six volunteer coaches. Since then, the organization has positively impacted over 36,000 girls across the Western Slope. GOTR Western Colorado now has over 700 coaches and other volunteers, and serves roughly 2,000 girls each year. The program is funded exclusively by community sponsors and donors, whose generosity allows GOTR Western Colorado to have the lowest registration fee in the nation, according to program director Sharon Poling. “We continue to be affordable and accessible to any girl who would like to be a ‘Girl on the Run,’” says Poling, who has been a member of the GOTR Western Colorado team since its inception.

GOTR is committed to providing a female-focused space for participants. According to Eastham, research shows that girls often face higher rates of anxiety and depression than boys, and are more likely to experience bullying and societal pressures. “Programs designed specifically for girls provide a safe and supportive environment where they can develop critical life skills, build self-esteem and form meaningful connections with peers and mentors,” says Eastham. GOTR aims to help girls see that other girls experience the same feelings and situations, allowing them to open up and be themselves.

GOTR uses structured, interactive lessons to equip participants with the social, emotional and physical skills to successfully navigate their experiences. Shawn Carstensen Hays, educator and GOTR volunteer for more than 20 years, sees how these lessons impact participants in the classroom. “I see girls using the tools they have learned, like standing up for themselves and others and solving problems with others,” says Hays. “They participate more in class because their self-confidence has grown, and they develop a stronger growth mindset.”

Participants are off and running at the Frisco Girls on the Run 5K held annually at Summit Middle School in late October. Photo by Joe Kusumoto.

To celebrate 25 years of GOTR Western Colorado, the administrative team is hosting a planned event every month of this anniversary year. Events focus on coach appreciation, sponsor and donor recognition and community outreach. “It’s hard for me to believe it has been 25 years since I began my coaching journey with GOTR,” says Poling. “I am constantly amazed by the positive impact this program has on everyone involved. Not only the girls we serve but the volunteers as well.”

The GOTR Western Colorado 5K celebration is an annual, end-of-season event for participants to celebrate how far they have come in the program. Girls from over 40 elementary and middle schools will gather with friends, family and volunteer coaches to run 3.1 miles through Fruita. Every year, community members show their support with colorful signs, music, bracelets and encouragement throughout the run. “The celebratory 5K is a milestone moment, symbolizing the culmination of the program and the personal growth of each participant,” says Eastham. “It allows girls to put into practice the perseverance, confidence and teamwork they’ve developed, celebrating their accomplishments in a supportive and empowering environment.”

To learn more about Girls on the Run Western Colorado or make a donation, visit gotrwesterncolorado.org.

Originally published in the summer 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.