It's Idaho Gives Day!   On May 7th, nonprofits across the state get a chance to share what they're all about and how their work is making a difference in their communities.  It's also a day for Idahoans to donate to the causes they're most passionate about.Last year, they raised $782,000 for over 600 causes.  This year they hope to top that number!

This year I'm donating to Girls On The Run.  Last fall, one of our sales department super stars, Holly, invited me to be a running buddy for GOTR at the YMCA's Halloween Run and I jumped at the chance! It's a running-based, after school program for girls between 3rd and 5th grade.   Their goal is to help the girls develop healthy bodies, minds and relationships.  At the end of their 10 week program, they run a non-competitive 5K and move on with skills for making smart eating choices, saying no to drugs/alcohol and standing up to bullying.  I loved getting a chance to run that final 5K with my new friends Paige and Grace back in October!

I'm making my donation to this program because it's everything I wished I had access to before I could run track and field in the 7th grade.  I shared my background story about my battle with anorexia the day I signed up for the Nutrimost program with Idaho Fat Loss.  My body image and self esteem were so low that I decided the only way to be accepted by my peers was to become "pretty" by being unhealthily skinny.  The kindness and acceptance I found in my running teammates and coaches saved me from by battle with Ana.

Track and Cross Country made me feel like my body was really a gift and that I could get out of running what I wanted by putting in hard work and making healthy choices.  Running helped me go from a sad, lonely, little girl who would write stories during homeroom about disappearing for good to a bubbly young woman who looked forward to practice with her teammates and pushing her healthy body to the limits.  It was totally empowering and I'm glad there's a program like Girls on the Run that immerses girls in that culture at a younger age than I got into it!  I'm proud to put my Idaho Gives Day donation toward this program.

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