The local chapter of Girls on the Run is celebrating another successful session with a 5K run at UNR on Sunday.

"We are a ten-week program in elementary and middle schools locally," said Joy Heuer, Executive Director of Girls on the Run Sierras. "We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident while creatively integrating physical activity. It's all about the soft skills - confidence, care, connection, compassion, and sense of community. And oh, by the way, they're being physically active."

This session was their biggest yet - more than 400 girls. And a dedicated group of volunteer coaches led the way.

"We have coaches telling us they've seen girls who can't even make eye contact with other girls open up and start to have conversations and befriend people," Heuer said. "We love when parents call us and say, we don't know what you're doing, but continue to do it because my daughter is blossoming and thriving. It gives me goosebumps thinking about the difference we're making in this community."

Sunday's 5K isn't a race - it isn't even timed. The only goal is to finish. There's a community run that day as well, also untimed.

"There's a lot of people out there who don't want to be timed on a 5k - like me," Heuer said. So we have an untimed 5k and 100% of the proceeds come back to local scholarships for girls so they can participate in the program."

And for those that prefer a lazy Sunday? There's an option for that. It's called a happy sleeper donation.

"If you're not a runner or a walker, or this doesn't excite you, you can sleep in for the cause," Heuer said. "We have what's called a happy sleeper so for a donation you can still support the program but you can stay at home in your pajamas and know you're helping the community without having to participate.

For more information visit: https://www.girlsontherunsierras.org/Â