The Girls on the Run program will be sponsoring a 5K race starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Mattoon YMCA for the community to come and support the girls who have been working towards a positive body image for the last ten weeks.

It will be a road race that anyone in the community is welcome to walk, run or skip in, said Beth Gillespie, one of four coaches that are involved in the Coles County Girls on the Run program.

Gillespie said it is a non-competitive race that is a celebration of the Girls on the Run program that is new to Coles County this year.

Everyone is a winner and whoever finishes will receive a medal for supporting the girls for all their hard work, she said.

It is $20 to register for the race today and $25 dollars on site

Saturday.

Gillespie said there will be a celebration after the race begins that includes a Happy Hair station where on-lookers and family can get unique colors and up-dos.

Face painting and an inflatable bounce house will also be at the Mattoon YMCA.

Gillespie said she encourages people to come support the 15 girls who have found a positive body image and learned how to be healthy and avoid gossip and bullying for the past 10 weeks.

One hundred volunteers are needed to help with planning the events across the community and for race day.

Volunteers are wanted for the spring session of Girls on the Run.

Two volunteer coaches are needed for the bi-weekly 10-week

session.

Each coach will be in charge of about eight to 15 girls and help with the lessons and training for the spring race, Gillespie said.

Volunteers who help with the program will receive a free t-shirt for their dedication.

Gillespie said Eastern students are encouraged to help out with this program.

She said it is great for the community and can be used toward community service hours.

“It is a very rewarding experience and it is sort of a selfish pleasure for us as coaches to know we are changing these girls’ lives every day we meet,” Gillespie said.

Gillespie can be reached about interest in volunteering at 581-6396 in the Career Service Department of the Human Services Building on campus.

Joanna Leighton can be reached at 581-2812 or jlleighton@eiu.edu.