Join us in sending a “Superstar” energy award to Maya Wright! Maya volunteers at our Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake (GOTRGC) 5Ks, and we’re so happy to share her fun memories, celebrate her, and share her inspiring hopes for GOTR participants in her volunteer spotlight. 

Maya has been volunteering with our council for two years now, and she enjoys spending time outdoors and moving her body. She likes running, cycling, hiking, rock climbing, gardening, and dining al fresco on her deck. We asked Maya what made her want to volunteer with us, and she responded, “I first learned about the organization from a church member in 2024. I loved what GOTR stood for, and thought to myself, there should be a presence in Baltimore City, where I was born, raised, and still live today. I casually mentioned this to my mentor and to my surprise, she told me there was! She also shared that her daughter participated in the program. In awe, I immediately looked up GOTRGC, and signed up to volunteer. I never looked back!” 

It's important to Maya to support Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake because she shared that this is a program that she would’ve loved to have in her life growing up. “I didn't have a mentor until high school, and I didn't start running distance races until after college, so I feel like GOTR is an excellent opportunity for girls to learn what they are capable of at an early age,” Maya explained. “I hope every Girls on the Run participant feels like they can do anything they set their mind to. I hope they feel confident, and strong, and capable of doing it all over again.

At GOTRGC, we often say, “The finish line is just the beginning.” We asked Maya what this quote means to her, and she stated, “This (quote) is powerful because once you cross that finish line, you know your body is capable. You're emboldened because your diligence paid off. From there, you've built a solid foundation to explore new goals with confidence. This is what happened to me, running my first half marathon, and surprisingly running my first ultramarathon less than a year later. Not only did I strengthen my body, but also my mind. And that strength carries over into all areas of your life.”

We’re very grateful to Maya for believing in every participant’s limitless potential, and for her continuous dedication to volunteer at our 5K celebrations. The incredible impact of our movement is possible because of supportive volunteers like Maya who show up and bring their heart and energy to the end-of-season celebration. If you want to join our GOTRGC volunteer team and make a positive impact, mark your calendar as our two Fall 2026 5K celebrations will be on November 22nd and December 5th. Register to volunteer at our 5K today at https://www.pinwheel.us/registrationinfo/event/F26-GOTRGC-5K-VOL!