Photo: WBZ NewsRadio \ Shari Small
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Almost 2,000 girls showed off their girl power on Saturday with a special 5K race in Boston.
1,800 girls ages 8 to 13 ran in the race at Suffolk Downs to celebrate the end of a 10-week training season with Girls on the Run Greater Boston, an independent nonprofit organization.
This year's race had a record-breaking number of participants representing 104 teams from Boston, Chelsea, Lowell, Lawrence, Newton, Marlborough, Plymouth and many more nearby communities.
"I think Girls on the Run was a great bonding experience," 9-year-old Michaela told WBZ's Shari Small. "I got to meet new people."
The program uses research-based lessons incorporated with running to help the girls learn empowerment tools to build confidence, competence, connection, character, and caring. The ten-week running season and program curriculum help girls develop and fine-tune the skills they need to navigate the world with an appreciation for health and wellness.
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"I am very excited and I can't wait to see all the amazing things I do in the future," said Michaela.
WBZ's Shari Small talked with Michaela's proud mother.
"I am the most proud," said Tanya. "Michaela is on the spectrum and so she has had kind of a hard time making friends and this experience has really been life-changing for her, just the difference I have seen in her [it]s] really spectacular."
Each girl wore a racing bib with the number one on it and received a medal when they crossed the finish line.
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