Daisy Fuentes lends voice to helping young girls

Question: What is Girls on the Run?

Answer: It’s a very cool organization that I was introduced to actually through Fitness magazine. I love what it stands for: the whole idea of getting preteen girls into running and just into having a healthy attitude about fitness and a positive body image I think it’s really important these days.

Q: What is your role with the organization?

A: Right now I’m just a big supporter and a big fan of what they do. I hope to get more involved with them and to learn more about their plans are for the future.

Q: What do you like most about your work with Girls on the Run?

A: that you might actually get a young girl to listen and maybe make some sense to a confused young mind and set somebody on the right track for life.

Q: How important is it to have a program such as this available?

A: It’s very important, especially these days. … I didn’t know what a diet was until I was out of high school and I think that’s the way it should be. I think you should remain active and healthy, not worry about calories. When I see a young girl of 7 or 8 years old talking about calories, exercise and whether she’s too fat or not and she’s overly skinny, that’s a sign to me of a troubled mom and troubled elders around her.

Q: What is your advice to girls who are just getting involved with Girls on the Run?

A: I think it’s really important to figure out who you are, what you want to stand for, the things you want to believe in, the things you don’t like. That’s all a part of figuring out who you are and becoming a strong individual who doesn’t pay too much attention to what society says. You know, do what you know is right and positive in your mind and in your heart.

Q: What is the most positive thing that this program does to increase girls’ confidence?

A: I think it probably teaches them, it gives them a tool to start finding their way into health and fitness. If you get started that young with something that makes you feel good, that increases your self-esteem, your endurance and your fitness level at the same time. I think that’s a good thing.

Q: What’s the most moving experience you’ve had since being involved in this group?

A: Like I said I haven’t worked with them long, but I think this event is a great example of how to bring people together and show  what they mean when they say fitness can be fun and a part of your life. … I mean their energy is just infectious.

Q: How will you use the exposure from being named Fitness’ magazine’s Mind, Body & Spirit Superstar to promote Girls on the Run?

A: Any way I can. The one thing I have is my voice. I can speak to people and pass the word along on about what they do … because it is a nice cause, they’re doing good work.

Interviewed by Giacinta Pace, NBC News

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