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Testimonials about Girls with Sole |
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Hey Liz !,
I just want to thank you for getting me involved in these races coming up. It inspires me that you created an organization dedicated to helping girls reach there dreams and changing their lives through sports and fitness. Just the couple of running exercises Ive done with you has helped me believe better in myself, knowing that I'm not alone and someone else wants to see me achieve my goals. When I run the spring classic and the half marathon, I dont want to just be an inspiration to myself, but to other girls out there. i want them to see short me running a race and be like "hey, if she can chase after dreams and goals, So can I!" I hope one day you can find more girls who are motivated and inspired to push themselves farther than they have ever pushed themselves before, and with your organization I bet you'll inspire many!
Sincerely, Alexis M., Age 17
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"I like Girls With Sole because people get a chance to meet new people and have fun.
And it's easier to talk about how you feel."
Koury B. age 13
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"My life is like a race. Im always running toward the goal but never looking back. because the things that lurk behind shouldn't slow you down or keep you back. your mind might tell you can't go on but your heart will always beat and believe, so move on. For LIFE is just the beginning of a LONG race!
Im glad I never let people stop me from believing, Im glad i pushed myself to greater things, Im a runner with a lot of guts, Ill never stop, never ever."
By, A.M.
Program participant, Age 17
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The Elyria Salvation Army
May 3 , 2011
The Salvation Army Community Mentoring Program is very happy to have found out about GWS. When I spoke to Liz Ferro, founder of the program, regarding what the mission of her program was; and found out that the focus was on physical fitness,eating healthy,self-esteem and the overall wellness of the body: it fit in well with what we wanted our girls in the mentoring program to have a chance to experience. Ms. Ferro has made a difference in these girls' lives, I am so glad we partnered with GWS.
THANK YOU!!!
Dale Jones Program Director
The Elyria Salvation Army
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"As the Director of the We Run This City YMCA Youth Marathon Program, I had the opportunity to work with Liz Ferro when she volunteered to be a running mentor and coach.
During that time she was paired with a twelve year old girl who was one of two kids that had chosen to run the Half Marathon instead of the one mile distance that the rest of the group would partake in on race day at the Cleveland Marathon.
Liz Ferro was a wonderful mentor and her energy and enthusiasm was both infectious and motivating. It was easy to see how much she cared that the child she mentored reached her goal, and that she wanted the encouragement she showed the child to continue to help her long after she crossed the finish line.
I am happy to say that that is exactly what happened. The young girl that Liz Ferro mentored is now in high school, doing very well in school and is still running today! The self-esteem and pride gained from programs such as We Run This City and mentors like Liz Ferro are invaluable to the kids in our community."
Tara Taylor, We Run This City Youth Marathon Program Director |
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As a teacher of the girls here at The Intergenerational School (TIS), I have witnessed many positive changes in our girls. For starters, they each treat each other with a great deal more respect. They work together as a team and encourage each other.
In the beginning of the program, the girls were reluctant to do any of the activities because most of them weren’t used to “physical activity” let alone running. After a few weeks of seeing how the GWS staff really motivated the girls with fun activities, the girls started to really WANT to do GWS. They are more excited and come ready with smiles. In the long run, they understand that being active and doing it with friends actually benefits their health and friendships.
They are a wonderful team of ladies and I thank GWS for bringing this program to our school and encouraging our girls every week!
Telissa Teets
Junior Cluster Teacher
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"Liz, thanks for all your participation in making the weekend at Winterfest Triathlon Camp a fun one! Your energy and enthusiasm kept me pushing harder each day. I realized that I was stronger and faster than I was giving myself credit for as a result.
I couldn't figure out how or why you were so fast until I checked out the Girls With Sole website this morning. You've got a great race history, and a lot of notable accomplishments!
More importantly, you've got a real gift to bring an important issue to the forefront through your Girls With Sole organization. Thanks for sharing your story and your organization with us. I'll bike and run a little harder in the Lake Placid Ironman now that I have even more reason to be inspired!"
Mike Toth |
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My name's XXXXX and I am 17 years old and just graduated from high school. I just read your article in the West Shore Sun and I immediately wanted to contact you.
After reading your article about Girls With Sole program, I was deeply touched. I am so glad someone finally made such a wonderful program for girls that experienced sexual of physical abuse. Although I have, fortunately, never experienced sexual abuse, I have suffered through anorexia and bulimia. I would isolate myself from everyone and everything I once loved.
It was a dark experience, to say the least. But once my friends and family insisted I seek help, I knew I had to turn myself around. Exercise and just being active became the light for me. I was no longer counting every calorie I ate and constantly stressing over the way I looked. It was hard to overcome the addiction, but thankfully I had support. Once I started exercising I realized I am worth so much more than the way I was treating myself. It lifted my spirit up and provided me hope. As a result, I now know that if I could overcome my self destructive nature with being physically active, I know anyone can.
I cannot tell you how inspired I am from reading about this program. I hope to in the future reach out to not only girls but anyone who has fallen victim of abuse. I think Girls With Sole is a great alternative program to girls in need of help, especially those who are afraid or hesitate to seek help (like I was). I have faith that this program will do great works in anyone's life. And again, I cannot express how much I am inspired and truly understand your mission! |
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"I am a mental health counselor with the Residential Treatment Center of Multi-County Juvenile Attention System in Stark County. We work with 13 to 18 year old girls who have been placed with us by the courts and/or Children’s Services anywhere from six months to one year. All of the girls we work with have been abused, suffered neglect, and have lived through multiple traumas and losses. Our girls feel that they have lost or have had taken from them any power and control in their lives. Being placed with us often identifies them as the problem. Our work is to provide counseling, life skills, schooling and the tools needed to send them back into their communities and to succeed, often on their own. This is no easy task.
The majority of our girls are runners by nature. They have run from abusive homes, the police and any and all problems. They have run to substances, other abusive relationships and prostitution.
When Liz came to us, not only did she bring fitness, liveliness, self-esteem and encouragement, she also brought a purpose to their lives. Now they have a reason to run the themselves in a healthy way. A way to reclaim the power and control they have been led to believe they don’t possess. Girls With Sole comes to our facility several times a month and offers our girls a change to dance, come together as a group, support one another, and above all, see first hand that they can overcome what has been done to them.
Our girls typically come to us with very little. Making sure they have life’s essentials is a battle in itself. Thanks to Liz’s efforts, they all now have brand new running shoes, sports bras, water bottles and treasures they have acquired from attending 5k’s that Liz has sponsored them for. We have been privileged to attend two 5k’s to date and one that we are looking forward to in November. All of our girls that have attended the 5k’s proudly wear their race shirts.
Not only have these experiences outside of the facility provided them with stuff, it has provided the girls with new experiences. They have been able to see a world outside of their own, where people are healthy, motivated, successful, friendly and encouraging. They experience support and a sense of belonging to something. When we attended the first 5k in June at Rocky River, many of the girls were simply giddy with excitement. They were amazed at all the activity surrounding them, the welcoming atmosphere and the achievement that they had completed a race. When we left that run, one girl commented that she couldn’t believe she’d had so much fun so early in the morning and that she didn’t have to be stoned to have a blast.
So, to Liz, I say thank you on behalf of our girls, Multi-County and myself. We are proud and privileged for you to be a part of all of our lives and thankful for the hope and joy you continue to bring. To all of you, I think you for making so much of this possible. Girls With Sole is truly a blessing to our girls. "
Susan M. Brown
Residential Treatment Center C Wing Counselor
Multicounty Juvenile Attention System
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