Registration is now open for Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana’s fall programs.

The 12-week after-school programs use the power of running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. The girls train for a 5K race while building self-esteem and improving emotional and physical health.

The Girls on the Run program is open to girls in third through fifth grades, while Girls on Track is geared toward girls in sixth through eighth grades.

The programs are held twice a week after school at various locations throughout the region including: Highland, Hammond, Crown Point, Cedar Lake, Munster, Dyer, East Chicago, Gary, St. John, Portage, Valparaiso and LaPorte.

Dates and times of the program depend on the location. Training begins the week of Aug. 22.

The program is offered on a sliding scale from $40 up to $120, depending on parents’ incomes. We also offer full financial assistance for girls.

Participants can mail the attached application to: Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana 9824 Terrace Ct., Highland, IN 46322. Registration is capped at 15 girls per team so turn in your application early!

Participants also can register in person from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 at Fleet Feet off U.S. 30 in Schererville.

For more information, please email gotrofnwi@yahoo.com.

The fundraising film festival is dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, highlighting women filmmakers and bringing women together in their communities.

The festival will feature nine short films by female filmmakers. The films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, motherhood, body image, aging, cultural diversity and breaking barriers.

A reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on June 30, with film showings at 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. The Indiana Welcome Center is located at 7770 Corrine Dr., just south of the Kennedy Avenue exit on 80/94.

Tickets are $25 per person.

All proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana.

LUNAFEST, which is created and funded by LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®, has raised over $360,000 for Breast Cancer Fund and over $570,000 for other women’s nonprofit organizations.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.gotrofnwi.org, holding your cursor over the events tab, then clicking LUNA FEST.

For more information, call (219) 923-7903.

To read more about it, click here.

If you have questions, please contact Lori at RaceDirector@gotrofnwi.com

Some of the items we have for the auction include:

A bowflex, a gift basket from Horseshoe casino, gift certificates to area restaurants, t-shirts from The Junkyard in Whiting, a scent warmer from Scentsy, products from Arbonne, bread from Panera, wine from Baxter Printing, and gift cards from Family Video.

Hope to see you on Wednesday!

New Balance video featuring Girls on the Run