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Grownup Runners Rack up the Miles and Dollars for Girls on the Run

Tom Flanigan

Saturday(9/30) was a big fundraiser for Leon County's Girls On the Run program. Supporters were turning exercise into cash at Premier Health and Fitness.

Tallahassee scuba diving enthusiast Gabrielle Gabrielli traded in her swim fins for running shoes to workout on the treadmill.

"I'm so supportive of the fact that they help girls who need to improve their, not just physical fitness, but their emotional fitness, their social skills, lots of other things," she said without even breaking stride.

On the mezzanine track above, a constant parade of runners was grinding out the miles. Girls on the Run Executive Director Ericka McKibbon said every lap meant dollars for the program that empowers young women in grades 3 through 5.

"What the Run-a-thon does is it brings critical resources and scholarships to our girls," she noted. "All of our teams today are commited to raising $1,000 and we have 8 teams and so that's $8,000!"

Since its founding in 2013 Girls on the Run of the Big Bend has served more than 800 girls.

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Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories. here.