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HHS/AVON RUNNING ANNOUNCES
THE GIRL POWER! MILE

National Kick Off Set For Saturday, March 27th in Dallas, Texas

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today launched the Girl Power! Mile, a one-mile run specifically designed for young girls, 9 � 14 years of age, as part of Avon Running � Global Women�s Circuit in the United States. The Girl Power! Mile, a collaboration by the Department of Health and Human Services� Girl Power! Campaign and Avon Running, hopes to inspire young girls around the country to get active, enjoy running and build self-esteem and self-confidence.

The Girl Power! Mile will be held in selected cities around the country, as part of the 1999 Avon Running � Global Women�s Circuit, a series of 10K runs, 5K walk/fun runs and workshops for women of all ages and fitness levels. The national kick off for the one-mile run is on Saturday, March 27 at Dallas City Hall in Dallas, Texas. Avon Running will waive all entry fees for the Girl Power! Mile and provide 9-14-year-old participants with Avon Running/Girl Power! T-shirts and Girl Power! Mile finishers� ribbons.

"Running is healthy for the heart and soul. Your body gets stronger and you gain self-confidence and self-esteem," said Secretary Shalala. "This healthy approach to living will help girls build a foundation for a successful adulthood."

"We are very excited about giving girls the opportunity to get to the starting line of physical fitness with the Girl Power! Mile," said Kathrine Switzer, Avon Running�s Program Director and the 1974 winner of the New York City Marathon. "At the same time, the girls will have the opportunity to meet women role models participating in the Avon Running 10K runs and the 5K walks."

Studies have shown that girls tend to lose self-confidence and self-worth during the pivotal age of adolescence, becoming less physically active, performing less well in school, and neglecting their own interests and aspirations. It is during these years that girls become more vulnerable to negative outside influences and to mixed messages about risky behaviors.

To address these concerns, HHS created the Girl Power! Campaign, a national public education campaign to help encourage and empower 9-14-year-old girls to make the most of their lives. The Girl Power! Campaign takes a comprehensive approach, addressing not only a range of health issues but also the erosion of self-confidence, motivation and opportunity that is all too typical for many girls during this transitional period.

The Girl Power! Campaign combines strong "no use" messages about tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs with emphasis on providing opportunities to build skills and self-confidence through many endeavors. It addresses related issues such as teen pregnancy prevention, physical activity, nutrition and mental health.

Since its creation in November 1996, the Girl Power! Campaign has teamed up with nearly 300 organizations and over 60 national endorsers to promote the Girl Power! message. The Campaign also challenges caring adults to encourage and support young girls at this transitional age when they are forming their values and attitudes to build self-confidence and pursue opportunities to build skills and self-esteem in sports, academics, the arts, and other endeavors. The Girl Power! Campaign combines the latest knowledge about girls� lives with messages and materials designed to be appealing to girls and to the adults who care about them.

Individuals and organizations interested in participating in the Girl Power! Campaign, or would like more information can call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) at 1-800-729-6686 (TDD 1-800-487-4889) or visit the World Wide Web at: www.health.org/gpower.

For more information regarding the Girl Power! Mile, please contact Kelly Wall, Avon Running, at (212) 282-7104. For specific information on the Dallas race, please contact (214) 821-0909.

Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: www.dhhs.gov.