The YMCA of Springfield’s Blessed Sacrament school STRIDE boys running program will present a donation to veterans from the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight at a school assembly on Monday, December 12, at 8:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament school, 748 W Laurel St.
The YMCA STRIDE boys running program is the boys equivalent of the popular Girls on the Run. The after-school program teaches third, fourth, and fifth grade boys life lessons and character building with running as the core experience. Community service is one component of the STRIDE lesson plan, and the Blessed Sacrament team chose the Land of Lincoln Honor flight as their project. The boys made cards and signs then greeted returning veterans on the November 1 Honor Flight.
The STRIDE boys have also been fundraising to send a veteran on a future Honor Flight and have raised $1000.00 by collecting change at the school. The boys will present the check to veterans from the Honor Flight at a full school assembly on Monday, December 12, 2022, at 8:00am in the Blessed Sacrament School Assembly Room.
About Springfield YMCA STRIDE Boys Running Program
YMCA STRIDE is the Boys equivalent of the popular Girls On The Run. STRIDE, which stands for Strength Teamwork Respect Inspiration Determination and Excellence in characters a 10-week after school program for boys’ grades 3-5 that uses fun games, coach-led group discussions, and fitness related activities, to actively teach character-building lessons that creatively integrate running and training for a 5K run.
STRIDE provides boys the opportunity to share and explore issues they may face in school, in sports, in their community and at home. They learn the importance of being a good friend and positive role model, working as a team, and making good decisions. The weekly lessons teach boys to know what is right, care about what is right, and do what is right, while instilling confidence, building character and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. YMCA of Springfield STRIDE was launched in Spring of 2022 and currently has four school sites.
For more information, contact Lou Bart at Springfield YMCA, phone: 217-280-5103