When many students find an extracurricular or club they enjoy, they participate in the team, make friends, and eventually move on after graduating. Some might pick up the same sport in college, but a rare few raise thousands of dollars to support their program. But that’s what Creek alum Hannah Grober ‘24 did.
Girls on the Run (GOTR) is an organization that helps young girls find an outlet for their mental health by helping them participate in running activities. Grober graduated from Creek in 2024, and is currently a student at Appalachian State University. She joined GOTR as a young girl, and after years of loving the program, raised nearly $4,000 for the club for climbing a 14er.
At first, Grober did not consider herself as a runner, but her mom convinced her to join the club. Grober’s mom saw more than just a club, and after her first season of GOTR, Grober agreed. “[It was a] supportive, non-competitive environment,” she said. Everyone was there to build each other up,” Grober said.
She continued with GOTR, completing eight total seasons throughout 3rd through 8th grade, primarily because she loved how supportive the club was. “[It was] empowered [by] young women and felt like it was an incredibly influential program for me growing up,” Grober said.
The Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) introduced GOTR to Grober: it was a common club in her elementary school. But even beyond elementary school, Grober utilized the skills she learned in the club in daily life. She learned life tools for high school, specifically those about her mental health. “GOTR helped me manage my stress in high school,” she said.
Grober, in addition, had a passion for the outdoors and loved physical activity. And because of this, the 14er challenge was a great opportunity. The 14er was a fundraiser for GOTR for around $2,500, showing her hard work and dedication for GOTR.
“The challenge was a big undertaking which required me to be a little uncomfortable and put myself out there,” Grober said. “[But] I knew I had an incredible team to support me through the fundraising process.”
At the end of the 14er challenge, Grober reached her goal by making about $3,580 for the GOTR. She attributed a lot of the success she experienced to the dedication of her friends and family, many of whom made donations along the way, but also to her love of the club itself.
“GOTR has taught me that it’s great to have big dreams, and also incredibly important to know what my body, mind, heart, and spirit are,” Grober said.