Cordley kids are taking action
- Bert Nash Center
- Sep 5
- 2 min read
In addition to the social, emotional, and physical skills they build as a team, the Cordley Elementary School chapter of Girls on the Run is elevating the conversation around mental health. They’re also taking action, raising critical funds to help community members get the care they need.
Their coach, Dr. Rebecca Munro, shared that the team had a conversation this past spring to identify a meaningful community impact project. They considered different areas of focus that were important to them, and the topic of mental health care stood out.
The girls talked about what it feels like to see a therapist. One member described how helpful it is to have things like available snacks to help reduce kids’ anxiety and make them feel more welcome when they meet with providers. The team discovered a shared desire to make therapy more available to others.
Munro said, “It was a pretty lively conversation and a few of the girls shared their experiences with anxiety, OCD, and depression, including therapy and crisis services that they received at Bert Nash.”
“At the end of the discussion, we took a vote on which organization we wanted to support, and Bert Nash was our winner. Then we discussed ways to raise money.”
The team opted to create artwork and set up an online “photo contest” inviting supporters to donate funds in order to vote on one or more of the girls’ paintings, drawings, and even a pair of handmade earrings. They ran the contest for several weeks, timing it to coincide with National Mental Health Awareness Month (May), and were proud to see donations support Bert Nash clients as a result of their collective efforts.
Munro reflected that, “promoting mental health is so important for a healthy community. Cost and stigma around mental health care are still major barriers, so I'm glad this project could help start some conversations with the girls on our running team and help them realize that their small acts can make a difference in their own community.”
Left: "Being Weird is Subjective"
Right: Rainbow Earrings
