El Verano Students Boost Health on Multiple Levels

Third-grader Abigail Barragán, right, sprints with friends in the Girls on the Run after-school program, funded by donors like you.

“Adventurous Abby” has a new quest, thanks to you.

Abby Barragán, a third grader at El Verano Elementary School, used to either go home or head to the Boys & Girls Club after school. Aside from playing tag at the club, she didn’t get much exercise.

But this fall, Abby trained for a 5K race two afternoons a week on the El Verano campus. Through a Classroom Grant your donations made possible, school staff teamed up with Girls on the Run, a national program that combines workouts with self-empowerment lessons for girls.

Powered by your generosity, Abby made new friends across grade levels and learned about self-care. At the end of the eight-week program, she ran a 5K with her El Verano schoolmates and other North Bay Girls on the Run groups. Family members participated, too, and all the finishers got medals – a wonderful way to recognize the girls’ hard work and growth.

On a sunny afternoon in October, Abby and the group lined up for training. They ran to the left or right depending on how they would respond to a scenario described by a teacher: Someone who was hurtful to you is now on the receiving end of mean comments. Would you stand up for them?  

Abby was in the group sprinting left, indicating they would help. “Just because someone’s mean once, doesn’t mean they’ll do it again,” she pointed out.

The lessons are making a lasting impression on Abby. She’s even shared a mindful breathing technique she learned at Girls on the Run with friends.

Now Abby is doing more running whenever she’s at a park or playground. “It makes me feel really energized,” she says.

Thank you for helping Abby build new strengths and healthy habits that will carry her far beyond the 5K finish line. 

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