Jan. 25, 2010

Photo Gallery

By Matt Fox

Romeoville, Ill. - Last semester, members of the Lewis University women's cross country team volunteered with `Girls on the Run', a non-profit prevention program that encourages pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running.

The team helped out with the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K presented by the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview on November 14. The Flyers helped out with registration, and cheered on the girls at various stations throughout the course.

Sophomore Amanda Porter (Commercial Point, Ohio/Teays Valley/Shawnee State) and her mom were the driving force behind getting the team involved as they found out about the program on the internet and were inspired to help out.

"It was really uplifting to see the girls out there and getting motivated," Porter said.

`Girls on the Run', based in Charlotte, N.C. has chapters all over the country including three in Illinois. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual, and physical development. The program has been recognized nationally by CNN, NBC, ESPN, as well as in magazines.

"I'm excited the girls are about giving back, finding a group they are interested in and giving back to the running world," head coach Dana Schwarting said. "It fits well into the mission of Lewis University and keeping the athletes well-rounded."

A Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The 9th largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois is being honored for the sixth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.

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