Montgomery, Ala. – On Sunday, Oct. 11, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival will host the seventh annual Women in Training (WIT) 5K, a community‑focused fundraiser aimed at combating period poverty and providing essential hygiene supplies to girls in need.
Organized by the nonprofit Women in Training Inc., the event aligns with International Day of the Girl Child and underscores the organization’s mission to empower young women through access to menstrual, dental and personal‑care products. “Our goal is to ensure every girl has the dignity of a clean, safe period,” said Women in Training Ambassador Kacie Caldwell.
The race offers two options. The 5K Run/Walk covers the full 3.1‑mile course, with participants receiving timed results, age‑group awards and a commemorative WIT T‑shirt. For those preferring a shorter distance, a 1‑mile Fun Walk begins simultaneously, allowing families and beginners to join the cause.
Following the race, a family‑friendly festival will run from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring local vendors, music and information booths about the organization’s programs. “We want this to be a celebration of community spirit and a reminder that caring for our youth is a shared responsibility,” added Carrington Scott, another WIT Ambassador.
All proceeds from registration fees and on‑site donations will be directed to Women in Training’s supply kits, which are distributed to schools, churches and youth centers across Alabama. The kits contain menstrual pads, tampons, dental floss, toothbrushes and other hygiene items that many low‑income families cannot afford.
Period poverty remains a pressing issue in the state, with a recent study indicating that nearly one‑third of teenage girls in Alabama have missed school because they lacked menstrual products. By raising funds locally, the WIT 5K seeks to close that gap and give girls the confidence to stay in class and pursue their goals.
Registration is open online, and participants are encouraged to sign up early, as space is limited. Volunteers are also needed to help with race logistics, kit assembly and festival activities. “This is a chance for Montgomery residents to come together, get active, and make a tangible difference for our next generation,” said Action 8’s Estee Morrison, who covered the event.
For more information, registration details and volunteer opportunities, visit the Women in Training website.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
