Calvin's volleyball team helps local elementary school students 'run the race'

On Saturday, April 28, the Calvin women's volleyball team and a contingent of girls from Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School (GRCES) will complete Calvin's 5K Spring Classic together.

"I can't wait to see their faces when they cross the finish line," said Calvin senior Rebecca Kamp.

Kamp, a three-time, first-team All-American in her sport, is one of 15 players on Calvin's volleyball team who are participating in the Girls in Training program--an initiative of Grand Rapids Christian Schools designed to get girls thinking holistically about their health.

"I am so proud of the women that our volleyball players have become and I just wondered if they'd be willing to give back," said Calvin volleyball coach Amber Warners, who sought out the partnership with GRCES. She asked the team to think of a mentor that impacted their lives and then to think about how they could have that kind of impact on these young girls. And, so the partnership began.

Since February, the volleyball team has met with 28 third and fourth-grade girls from GRCES twice weekly. The volleyball players have served as mentors, building relationships with the students, helping them understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically.

In the first four weeks of the 10-week program, the girls exercised and had discussions at GRCES. For the remaining six weeks, the Calvin volleyball squad hosted the girls at Calvin to run on the track, practice in the gym and talk about health issues.

"When those little girls come into the room where the mentors are waiting, you should see their eyes," said Stacey Boender, recreation coordinator for Grand Rapids Christian Schools. "They are so excited. They have so much to tell them."

"The girls have someone to talk to that's a mature adult and it's not their parents," said Kamp, someone outside their family who's listening and cares about them and loves them, and for some of these girls, maybe it's the first time they've had someone like that to talk to and open up to."

And for all of these girls, Saturday will be a first as well--completing a 5K race together.

"I think it's been good to have a goal to work toward," said Kamp. "And Saturday, to be able to see themselves be successful in completing that goal, will be something that these girls will never forget."

The 5K Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. near the Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex (on the road between the Engineering Building and North Hall). Late Registration will be available beginning at 7 a.m. on race day in the Hoogenboom Recreation Center.

The Grand Rapids and Lakeshore chapters of the Calvin Alumni Association host the annual 5K Spring Classic to help fund scholarships for incoming students.

For more info on the 5K race, contact Emily Dock at 616-450-1757 or visit http://www.calvin.edu/classic

For more info on the partnership, contact Warners at 616-260-0628.

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Received on Fri Apr 27 10:59:36 2012