Press Releases

Bay Area Boot Camp Joins Brandi Chastain and BAWSI to Support South Bay Mentoring Program

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (August 1, 2007) - In partnership with the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI) and its co-founder, Brandi Chastain, Bay Area Boot Camp is sponsoring a new 5K Fitness Training Program to benefit the BAWSI Girls program.

BAWSI Girls, Chastain explained, provides 3rd-5th grade girls in at-risk communities with coaching and mentoring by top female college athletes in after-school fitness sessions.

"We recently got a letter from a parent that said, 'Thanks to BAWSI, my daughter mentioned with word 'college' for the first time,'" Chastain said, "We get letters from principals telling us about how [because of BAWSI] girls rush outside to grab soccer and basketballs. Teachers tell us girls are raising their hands more in class and changing their attitudes."

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the 5K Fitness Training Program will support BAWSI Girls. In addition, participants will compete in the Silicon Valley Run/Walk on November 4, 2007, along with members of BAWSI's Women Running the Country program.

According to BAWSI Co-Founder and CEO Marlene Bjornsrud, "This program emphasizes the important role women play as role models for young girls. During the Silicon Valley 5K, Women Running the Country participants will walk and run alongside 300 BAWSI Girls from underserved communities."

Since its founding in 2004, Bay Area Boot Camp has cultivated a partnership with BAWSI and supported the organization's mission to create programs that enable women athletes to bring health and hope to the community.

"We share BAWSI's mission to help people in our community get active," Bay Area Boot Camp co-founder and COO Mary Beth Gonzales said, "We hope the 5K training program will inspire people to commit to their well-being - or keep them going on their fitness journeys."

Training Begins September 10

Participants in the 5K Fitness Training Program begin the 8-week workout series on September 10. A typical week of training combines 3-6 mile runs, calisthenics and resistance exercises, and track workouts. The program also includes a nutrition plan, a pre-race party at Sports Basement, Luna energy bars, and a discount on Bay Area Boot Camp sessions.

In addition, participants will get a chance to meet Chastain, who will attend at least one 5K training session.

"Mothers and teachers are role models," Chastain said, "When their daughters see them [being active], that changes their perception about what they can do."

"The paradigm is shifting with respect to our future leaders," she added, "Girls are strong. We're just scratching the surface of who they could become."

For more information about BAWSI, visit www.bawsi.org. To sign up for Bay Area Boot Camp's 5K Fitness Training Program, visit www.bayareabootcamp.com/bawsi5k.

Bay Area Boot Camp Mary Beth Gonzales Co-Founder and COO email: Marybeth@bayareabootcamp.com phone: 408-425-9475

Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative Marlene Bjornsrud Co-Founder and CEO email: marlene@bawsi.org phone: 408-624-6010