When the program began six years ago, Girlstrong founders Dianne Barr and Pattie Freeman started with about 20 girls at Couchiching Heights Public School.
Through the years, the program gained interest from other schools and students through word of mouth and from there the program has expanded to having 41 local schools participating in the popular event.
Freeman and Barr are both thrilled with the continual growth of the event.
"We are so excited to see all these girls passionate about being a girl," said Barr, who is also a teacher at Couchiching Heights.
Girlstrong is a six-week program that allows female students from grades 3-8 to participate in running, games and teaching.
"It's an empowerment program that gives these girls a sense of achievement," said Barr.
"We get these girls to set a personal goal, and at the end, we celebrate by having this three-kilometre event," she explained. "Through this program, these girls learn a little bit about themselves, about healthy living and empowering themselves."
Over the past couple of years, the Girlstrong event has expanded past its origins of Orillia and is making its way into schools all over Simcoe County.
A total of 1,500 students participated in the event county-wide this year.
Sierra Tryon, a Grade 6 student at Monsignor Lee Catholic School, was all smiles after successfully finishing the Girlstrong program Tuesday.
"I learned a lot from Girlstrong, like working as a team," said Tryon. "It's a fun event because it's not a race; it's to just have fun with your friends."
Kaylin Mills, a Grade 6 student at Lions Oval Public School, says what she has learned from the program will stay with her for a lifetime.
"I learned that I could do stuff that I never thought I could do before," said Mills.
For future Girlstrong events, Freeman and Barr have their hands full with a decision on how they are going to manage it, as the potential for it to grow even further is becoming greater and greater by the moment.
Both Freeman and Barr expressed their sincere gratitude to all the event sponsors, volunteers, and participants before the run kicked off.
You can find out more about the program and how you can get involved here: girlstrong.ca
