We are incredibly honored to share that Girls on the Run Greater Cincinnati has received the Pacesetter Award at the 2026 Girls on the Run Summit for our initiative, "Every Step Counts: Expanding 5K Inclusion."

This award celebrates our commitment to ensuring every girl, regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive ability, has the opportunity to experience the joy, confidence, and accomplishment of crossing the 5K finish line.

From creating sensory-friendly spaces and social stories to introducing ASL interpretation, accessible restrooms, adaptive athlete partnerships, and enhanced volunteer training, this work has transformed not only our 5K, but also how we approach inclusion in everything we do.

This recognition belongs to so many people. Thank you to our incredible staff, volunteers, board members, and community partners who helped bring this vision to life. We extend our gratitude to our partners at The Bridge Adaptive Sports & Recreation, Cincinnati Children's be.well program, and Momentum Refresh, whose mission-driven work helped create accessibility for participants and their families. We are especially appreciative of Pig Works and the generous donors for believing in this initiative and supporting our efforts to make our 5K more welcoming and accessible for all.

Inclusion is never a finished project. It's an ongoing commitment to listening, learning, and ensuring every participant feels supported and celebrated.

We're proud of how far we've come and even more excited for what's ahead. As we work to fill Fall 2026 teams, we look forward to welcoming EVERY girl to our program.