On Nov. 7, nine Homer students and six girls from Kachemak Selo were celebrated for their strengths at the Girls on the Run 5K, thanks to enormous community support and volunteer effort. 

Very special and sincere thanks to the coaches and volunteers who all donated time and energy toward making the 5th season of Girls on the Run in Homer and second season in Kachemak Selo an unforgettable experience. Thank you to coaches Laura Kay, Kammi Moore, Sherry Stead, Rebecca Siegel, Michele Stenger, Tatiana Kuzmin and Arena White.

Our Rainbow Run would not have been the fun and successful event it was without the help of the Kachemak Bay Running Club, especially Saundra Hudson, Bill Steyer and Heather Albright, and the Homer Methodist Church hosting us once again. 

Amazing face painters Hannah Stearns, Alisa Mooy-Stearns, Brett Glidden and Kammi Moore, thank you. Hope Stearns, your hair styling and DJ skills were much appreciated. Kim Fine, Jan O’Meara and Elan Carroll, thanks for holding down the registration table. Thank you flaggers/photographers Lauren Everts, Megan Pitzman, Paige Meadows (MAPP), Joanna Riley and Amanda Cherok (Kenai Physical Therapy) and everyone who came out of their houses to cheer our teams on. 

Thank you to everyone who donated to our program, to the awesome running buddies, the setup and clean-up crew, generous parents, and the cheer and light from the GOTR girls.

Girls on the Run is an international curriculum designed to boost self-esteem and promote emotional and physical health in third-fifth grade girls. It is implemented by South Peninsula Haven House with support from the Girls on the Run of Greater Alaska and the Alaska Council for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA).  

If you’d like information about how to get involved in next season of Girls on the Run (either to volunteer or to sign a child up), please email Tara Schmidt at vista@havenhousealaska.org.

Sincere gratitude,

Tara Schmidt

Girls on the Run Coordinator

Haven House