Real -adj.
1. Genuine and authentic. 2. Not artificial. 3. Free of pretense. 4.
How one would describe Molly Barker
Molly Barker,
MSW and four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete founded Girls on the Run® in
1996. Combining her counseling and teaching expertise with research on
adolescent issues, she developed and delivered the first curriculum with
13 girls in Charlotte, North Carolina. The innovative, experiential
program combines training for a 5k event with life-changing, confidence
building lessons that enhance the physical and mental health of 8 – 12
year old girls.
Molly first began running at the age of 15 when she found
herself stuck in the "girl box". The girl box is the place where many
girls go around middle school when they begin to morph into what they
think they should be instead of being who they really are. The messages
of the girl box vary but the overarching theme comes from a culture
rooted in the belief that girls and women must conform to a set of
standards that are often unattainable and dangerous to our health and
well-being.
During a sunset run in 1993, after years of
questioning her self-worth and self-image, Molly found the inspiration
that grew into Girls on the Run. In 1996 she piloted the earliest
version of the 24-lesson curriculum with 13 brave girls. 26 girls came
the next season, then 75, and so the program grew. In 2000, Girls on the
Run International became a 501c3 organization. Today, Girls on the Run
is offered in over 150 cities across North America and hundreds of
thousands of girls and women’s lives have been changed by the program.
The
organization has been featured in many media outlets including People,
Runner's World, Redbook, Women's Day, O Magazine, Self, Shape, Southern
Living, Running Times, CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, NBC News, NPR, ESPN and
Forbes. Molly is the recipient of several prestigious national awards
including Redbook magazine's "Strength and Spirit Award" which
recognizes individuals who are building a better future for all of us,
the "Woman's Day Award" from Woman's Day magazine which salutes
individuals who have used their vision and heart to help fix pressing
problems, and the highly prestigious "Heroes of Running Award" from
Runner's World magazine. She is also a lifetime fellow of Ashoka, a
global organization that recognizes and supports leading social
entrepreneurs who are creating positive systemic change to the planet.
Molly is an inspiration to people of all ages.
Molly lives in
Charlotte, North Carolina, and enjoys running, cycling and writing.
Since creating Girls on the Run, she has authored two books, ‘Girls on
Track: A Parent's Guide to Inspiring our Daughters to Achieve a Lifetime
of Self-Esteem and Respect’, and ‘Girls Lit From Within’. She is
passionate about her work but is most inspired by her two children.
