Virginia Moore joined Girls on the Run in 2012, and shares that her program experience truly shaped who she is today. For this Baton Rouge, Louisiana native, it was her first introduction to running, but more than that, it taught her confidence, teamwork, and the joy of pushing her limits.

The lessons Virginia learned as a young Girl on the Run stayed with her throughout her life. In high school, she ran cross country and track, channeling the strength and determination she'd first discovered in the Girls on the Run program. As a senior, Virginia came back to Girls on the Run as a 5K volunteer. 

As a freshman in college, Virginia trained for her first marathon. She ran a second marathon and set a new personal record. Now, as a junior in college, Virginia has the chance to run her first major marathon, the Boston Marathon this April. Virginia says, "doing it for Girls on the Run feels so special and full circle."

Virginia is raising $17,000 to give other girls the same life-changing opportunity she had. Her journey from discovering her love of running at Girls on the Run in Baton Rouge to running one of the world's most prestigious marathons is proof of what Girls on the Run can spark in a young person's life.

"Standing at the finish line at that GOTR 5K in high school, cheering for the girls, I saw myself in them," Virginia shared. "I remembered what it felt like to be that young runner discovering her own strength."

This April, as Virginia takes on the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston, she'll be running for every girl who needs to hear that she's capable, strong, and unstoppable.

Want to support Virginia's Boston Marathon journey and help empower the next generation of confident, strong girls? Follow her progress and consider making a donation to help her reach her $17,000 goal for Girls on the Run.