VALDOSTA — Claire Walton had a dream of giving her daughter a chance to participate in a healthy and inspiring after-school activity.

Walton knew about the Girls on the Run program from her days as a YMCA teen director. She also had nieces who participated in the program in Virginia.

Walton and her husband, Randall, began researching the possibility of starting a local council in South Georgia for their daughter and other girls.

After raising more than $7,500 and completing all the necessary paperwork, Walton was able to get Girls on the Run off the ground in Lowndes County.

Girls on the Run serves third- to fifth-grade girls at Westside Elementary School and W.G. Nunn Elementary School. Walton said she hopes to eventually include more schools.

Girls on the Run is based on the positive impact of physical activity, Walton said.

Twice a week, the girls come together for an hour and half to play active games and run laps. Classroom time is also held with the girls learning to bond with each other, encouraging each other, learning to overcome peer pressure and focusing on how to help the local community.

A season is 10 weeks. The first few weeks are spent focusing on the girls’ bodies and health followed by focus on relationships and cooperation. The last section is about the community and the world around them.

All of the girls will participate in community 5Ks. Walton said she plans to eventually have an official Girls on the Run 5K.

Westside elementary students Claire Rothenhofer, Lexie Bedgood and Ryann Jones are just three members of the school’s team and they agree that running is the most fun for them and they’ve made new, supportive friends.

Both schools have full teams of 15 girls with admission into the program on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“We are limited by the number of volunteers,” said Walton. “We are hoping to get more so we can continue to grow the program.”

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and be available between 2:30-5:30 p.m. once or twice a week. Background checks are performed on all interested volunteers.

The sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha is a national philanthropic partner with Girls on the Run and local members of the sorority participate in the program.

More information: Visit www.girlsontherunsouthgeorgia.org.

Desiree Carver is Lifestyles Editor at the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be reached at (229) 375-5777.