We are so proud of the 28 different community service projects our teams planned and implemented at the end of the Fall 2013 season! This is an integral part of the GOTR curriculum, helping our participants recognize the importance of giving back and showing them how good it feels! Here are some examples of the many wonderful projects that impacted not only the local community but also people across the globe.

Three teams partnered with our sponsor Econ Wealth Management to help the business collect Christmas toys for needy children at The Silence of Mary Home, a shelter for the chronically poor in Harrisburg (https://www.thesilenceofmary.org/). This is an annual project for Econ Wealth Management staff and clients, and they collected more toys than ever this year with the help of GOTR:

• East Hanover Elementary and Linglestown Elementary - collected dozens of toys from students, faculty, and staff members
• Mountain View Elementary - held a charity run to purchase additional toys for The Silence of Mary Home. The girls raised $142.50 by running laps during their workout.

Three of our teams cheered up sick children at Penn State Hershey Medical Center with handmade crafts:

• Hershey Elementary B (Tues/Thurs) made headbands and cards.
• Northside Elementary (Mechanicsburg) made Rainbow Loom bracelets, cards, and pictures.
• Tri-Community Elementary made Christmas decorations and cards.

Crossroads Middle School packed craft kits for Caitlin’s Smiles, an organization that helps children facing serious illnesses by providing them with fun and creative art experiences.

Fishing Creek Elementary collected needed items for Molly’s Place Animal Rescue. The girls also assembled goodie bags to be sent home with the pet’s new family when adopted.

Hershey Elementary A (Mon/Wed) held a bake sale to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, an organization dedicated to eradicating childhood cancer. The girls were inspired by a classmate who was diagnosed with cancer at three years old and beat the illness. The team raised $295.06.

Hershey Middle School designed cards with encouraging words and images. The cards were given to soldiers currently serving and to cancer patients at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Iron Forge Educational Center continued growing their pen-pal relationship with students in Sendai, Japan by sending cards and holiday care packages. This region of Japan was devastated by the powerful Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

New Cumberland Middle School participated in a charity walk to benefit breast cancer research. They also make thank you cards for our council.

Below: Children in Sendai, Japan, a region demolished by the Tohoku earthquake/tsunami, will have a happier holiday thanks to a Christmas care package from our Iron Forge team!

The morning of Sunday, October 20th, an interview with CAGOTR staff will be featured on 8 regional radio stations including BOB 94.9 and KISS 99.3 at 7:30 a.m. and The Ticket 1460 AM at 8:30 a.m. Click here to listen to the podcast! THANk YOU to Sylvia Maus and Clear Channel Communications for this opportunity to bring awareness to our cause!!!

The Fall 2013 season is our biggest yet, with teams at 27 local partner schools! To register your daughter or loved one, please visit https://capareagirlsontherun.org/fall2013reg/. Teams of 15 girls will be formed on a first come, first served basis. Register early to reserve your a spot for your special girl!

How about “Shin Splints”?

Sure most of us have heard about shin splints, and many of us have experienced them. But what are they and what can you do about them if you’re unfortunate enough to get them?

Shin splints occur when the muscles on the front of your lower leg pull on the covering of the bone and inflame it. They often occur after a change in activity or training (such as the beginning of the season or a change in terrain).

Often times, the pain of shin splints is self-limited. Meaning, it hurts to run so you don’t, the inflammation subsides, so start running again. But what if the pain doesn’t go away on it’s own?

The best way to treat shin splints is by the “ladder approach”. Start with a reasonable defined period of time that you don’t run (usually 2 weeks is good). Then start very slowly getting back to fast walking or running at a very slow pace and low distance. If you have no pain with that, then move a rung up the ladder and add a little more distance or intensity. Keep moving up the ladder as long as there is no pain. At any point you start experiencing pain again, move down the rungs of the ladder to the point you have no pain and start your way back up again.

Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent shin splints, but with a simple approach you can get through them and back to running pain free.

Brett A. Himmelwright, D.O.
Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania
(717) 761-5530

Check out our list of participating schools for the Fall 2013 season! Don’t see your school below? Start a team in Spring 2014 - visit our Team Registration Page for more details!

• Broad Street Elementary
• Crossroads Middle
• East Hanover Elementary
• Eisenhower Elementary
• Elmwood Elementary
• Fishing Creek Elementary
• Hershey Elementary
• Hershey Middle
• Highland Elementary
• Hillside Elementary
• Holy Name of Jesus - Elementary
• Holy Name of Jesus - Middle
• Iron Forge Educational Center
• Lawnton Elementary
• Linglestown Elementary
• Linglestown Middle
• Mechanicsburg Middle
• Milton Hershey School
• Mountain View Elementary
• New Cumberland Middle
• Newport Middle
• Northside Elementary
• PA Cyber Charter - Elementary
• Paxtang Elementary
• Silver Spring Elementary
• Tri-Community Elementary
• Upper Allen Elementary

https://blog.pennlive.com/running/2013/07/capital_area_girls_on_the_run.html

We are accepting applications for a part-time Program Coordinator through July 13, 2013. Click here to read the job description and download the application.

On May 18, 2013 at Milton Hershey School, 950 runners celebrated the end of the Spring 2013 GOTR season, which included over 350 girls at 21 local partner schools! We would like to congratulate these girls for completing the 5K and program this spring! Click here to read more about our inspiring 5K!