Westfield State Hosts Girls on the Run Western MA’s Fall 5K

On November 24, Westfield State University welcomed over 3,000 participants to campus for Girls on the Run (GOTR) Western MA’s fall 5K celebration. The event brought together girls, coaches, families, and community members to mark the conclusion of the program’s ten-week fall season. Girls on the Run, a positive youth development program for girls in grades 3 through 8, teaches life skills through engaging running activities and group discussions.

“Children today are exposed to longstanding gender stereotypes, societal obstacles and cultural challenges that can be detrimental to their emotional and physical health,” GOTR’s mission statement reads. “Our program helps girls recognize their potential and rise above limiting gender expectations. Girls on the Run programs are about so much more than running – they make an impact at a critical age when confidence and physical activity decline.”

This year’s event was particularly special, as Girls on the Run Western MA celebrated its 10th anniversary, having served over 11,000 girls since its establishment in 2015. The fall season included 750 participants across 56 sites in the four counties of Western Massachusetts, guided by 250 dedicated volunteer coaches. The program received support from sponsors such as Scout Curated Wears, Liberty Bank Foundation, and The Jamrog Group, who helped make the event a success.

Westfield State’s hosting of the 5K was met with widespread praise. “A quick kudos to the many members of our campus community who brought the fall Girls on the Run Western MA 5K to Westfield State,” said Jennifer Gould, Associate Director of Facilities Budgets. “As the parent of a runner who has attended many GOTR events, our Westfield State team did an incredible job as the host site, and I heard tons of positive feedback from participants and spectators throughout the event.”

Gould also commended the collaboration of numerous campus departments, including Facilities and Operations, Environmental Services, Emergency Management, Athletics, Marketing, Public Safety, and Dining Services, for ensuring the event’s success. “There were many hands involved in showcasing our campus, keeping participants safe, and highlighting what we have to offer. Little touches like having warm drinks available and Westfield State stickers at the finish line added personal touches I haven’t seen at any of the four sites we’ve participated at in the past.”

Special recognition was given to Laura Cafaro and Ryan Begin from Conference and Event Services for their efforts in bringing the campus to life. Begin noted the scale and impact of the event, stating, “The Girls on the Run event brought in over 1,500 elementary and middle school girls as well as parents and teachers from 50-plus schools across Western Massachusetts. Runners were able to run throughout the entirety of the campus, passing nearly every building from Dower to Horace Mann. The campus community really stepped up for this event, including Facilities and Operations, Athletics, Public Safety, Dining, among others. This was an incredible event, and feedback has been very positive. It is one of the largest events the campus has held in recent years. We are hoping this is the start of many more large events to show off Westfield State.”