Girls on the Run® Greater Toronto Area believes that money should not be a barrier to this life changing program. With this in mind, we have established a policy whereby we will not turn away any child that would like to participate in our program due to financial difficulties. We take great pride in knowing that 100% of all donations go directly to helping a child through our life changing programs.




Some sad facts for today’s Canadian girls:

• In Canada, rates of obesity among children and youth ages 2 to 17 are increasing. In 1979, 3% of children and youth were obese. By 2004, 8% or an estimated 500,000 were obese. An additional 18% of Canadian children and youth are overweight. These statistics taken together result in one more than one quarter – or 26% – of Canadian children and youth being either overweight or obese.*
• 40% of 9 year old girls have dieted, despite being within healthy weight ranges.*
• Almost two-thirds of girls in 5th – 12th grade are dissatisfied with their body shape and want to lose weight.*
• 80% of 18 year old women have dieted.*
• One out of five women in Ontario between the ages of 20 and 34 is underweight.*

Here’s the good news!

• Girls who participate in physical activities are 40% less likely to smoke, have higher levels of self-esteem, better body image and have lower levels of depression.
• Girls who participate in physical activities are less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour during adolescence.

The news only gets better!!

• If she’s involved in Girls on the Run® …..
• She has higher self-esteem**
• She has an improved eating attitude**
• She has an improved body image;** and
• She has a positive peer group and role models for her future

Help us empower girls in our community. Your donation will assist us in providing this life changing program to girls that would not have otherwise had an opportunity to participate. Please contact

Council Director: Rina De Donato
E-mail: rina@girlsontherun.ca
Phone: (416) 798-8836
Fax:       (416) 798-8830
Mail:    Girls on the Run® Greater Toronto Area
               P.O. Box 156
               Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada L0J 1C0

*According to research conducted by Merryl Bear, M.Ed (Psych), National Eatinig Disorder, Dieting & Weight Loss: Fact & Fiction

**According to research conducted by Dr. Rita DeBate 2006 Academic Evaluation