The Race that Matters Most

from her first step, Georgia was running wide open. She ran in her first race at two and a half years old. It wasn’t official. The race was merely passing by on the road in front of her house, but that didn’t stop Georgia from leaving her grandfather’s side to join the runners. By second grade, she was winning races in her age group at Vidalia Heritage Academy (VHA). In 2022, Georgia’s sophomore year at Vidalia High School, she broke the school record with a 19:57 time for the 5k at the Southern Georgia Championship in Hazlehurst. Even so, her most recent feat was not a PR but a bold project she called the Little Feathers Running Club.

Like many athletes her age, Georgia was involved in more than one sport. She joined both girls' soccer and the cross-country team when she transferred from VHA to Vidalia High School (VHS) in 9th grade. But after a third concussion while playing soccer, contact sports were no longer an option. Even so, she could still run. And running was her passion.

When VHS cross country resumed practices in August 2022, Georgia was disappointed to learn that there weren’t enough girls on the team to compete in

The running club at Sally Meadows had a great impact on Bailee. It kept her motivated to continue to run and exercise which is important for an athlete. Having her friends run with her not only pushes her to be better, they also enjoy the company. She’s looking forward to next year.

-Ashley Fondren

many upcoming events. But the disappointment only turned her thoughts toward creating a possible solution. “My younger sisters are both runners. They’ll be coming to VHS soon. So I thought, ‘There has to be some way to get more girls involved.’ I knew it wouldn’t benefit me, but if I could do something to get more girls involved, maybe it would help my sisters.”

At the same time, Georgia was working on ideas for her FCCLA(Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) STAR event. According to fcclainc.org, “Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events are Competitive Events in which members compete at the regional/district, state, and national levels.” For the competition, Georgia decided on a “Chapter Service Project.” In other words, she needed a plan for a project that would benefit the community.

Georgia had her epiphany moment while watching her sisters compete at a private school cross-country event for

VHA. “I thought, ‘This is what we’re missing. Middle school is too late to get kids running. Vidalia needs a running program for kids in elementary school.’”

Georgia was right. If running as a team sport was unavailable in elementary school, participation in middle school was much less likely. This was the bridge that could connect the time when running is a natural part of a child’s life to middle and high school years when access to electronic devices and cell phones is more likely to vie for their time and attention.

“I thought about Bleckley County,” said Georgia. “They have a great cross-country program that starts in elementary school. When you see them compete, you can see how much fun the kids have. I love to watch their elementary kids compete. I thought, ‘That’s what I want for our school.’” It made perfect sense. If elementary kids can experience the fun and camaraderie of running as a team, there would be more chances for participation in the sport in high school.

It was a grand idea for a sixteen-year-old high schooler, and

Georgia’s idea might have stayed only a grand idea had it not been for Mandy Godbee, coach for the girl’s cross-country team, and Amanda Mosley, VHS FCCLA advisor. Georgia found encouragement as well as practical support from both. She also solicited her teammates' input and collaborated with the girls and boys on the cross-country teams for ways to realistically implement the idea.

By the time Georgia met with Scott Stephens, principal at Sally D. Meadows Elementary School, she had chosen a name: “Little Feathers Running Club.” Coinciding with her STAR project, the rubric required her to “Identify Concerns: Target Audience.” With data from usnews.com for Toombs County, she learned, “Our overall population health scores are lower than the national average. Adults and children in our community participate in less physical activity and have a higher heart disease prevalence and a higher cancer incidence. Mental health statistics for the county are also poor, with higher-than-average citizens with frequent mental distress and depression.”

“Many children in rural Georgia do not get the chance to experience or try the sport of running,” said Georgia. “Their involvement in sports comes from the opportunity to participate in public school sports. Running is a sport anyone can do. It’s low cost and requires only a pair of running shoes.”

With Mr. Stephens on board, Ms. Mosley helped Georgia create a flyer, and Coach Godbee

Running Club was a huge commitment from the runners, parents, and coaches. Mondays and Thursdays at 7 a.m. before school is a lot to ask from 10 and11 year olds. But the coaches were awesome! They were consistent and taught them discipline and gave the kids multiple opportunities to see their growth over the season. We are so thankful for Georgia and Coach Godbee for their sacrifice to invest in our Little Feathers! -Jamie

Sharpton

set up the Band App to enable communication with parents of potential participants. Initially, the goal was to reach the 2-5 grade. “But Mr. Stephens and Ms. Mosley recommended we begin by targeting 4th and 5th graders,” said Georgia, “and meetings be scheduled for Monday and Thursday mornings for working parent’s schedules and bus route issues.”

The first meeting was held on December 15th to determine if there was enough interest to proceed. Nearly fifty students signed up. Then, in early January 2023, Georgia presented to various civic organizations, including the Vidalia Lions Club, the Rotary Club, and the Kiwanis Club, to solicit help for her proposed budget. Each offered support. Georgia also spoke with the local hospital director at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital. “The hospital loved the idea so much that they paid for all the team t-shirts," Georgia also designed. Additionally, one of the parents donated the water and snacks needed for practices.

Georgia and Ms. Godbee lead the first Little Feathers Running Club practice on January 9th at 7:00 a.m. “There is always a high school student and either Ms. Godbee or Ms. Mosley there,” said Georgia. “On Mondays, we work on speed work. Then on Thursdays, we do long distance. Today, we gave them a popsicle stick every time they did a lap. That way, they could keep up with how many laps they had left. At the end, we count up to see who got the most for the girls and the boys.”

As stressful as it may be for the parent watching from the stands, healthy competition provides innumerable benefits. Even a loss is an opportunity to learn emotional control. Getting up and trying again may be the most beneficial life lesson of all.

Of course, the question in the mind of parents and teachers alike was: “Won’t these 4th and 5th-grade students be falling asleep in class after running laps at 7:00 a.m.?” The answer was no surprise to Georgia. While preparing for her upcoming STAR presentation in February, she read study after study that confirmed,

“…in the two hours following exercise, participants experience improved executive functions such as memory, problem-solving, cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, decision making, and inhibitory control. Exercise also helps students keep their attention levels up when tired” (National

Feedback from both parents and teachers made them all believers. “Teachers noticed a change in behavior with kids and improvement in attitudes and attention to school work. Kids are even asking parents to run with them on weekends!” said Georgia.

Without question, access to school sports is vital for our community. But the fact remains that the most important impact on a child’s health is the one made by parents. It was previously noted that Georgia's first race was at two and a half. But that’s not exactly true. “My mama ran races with me in a stroller before I could walk,” she said. “Both of my parents did cross country in high school. That's where they met. They actually started dating in high school.” Georgia smiled. Running is not the only beneficial model for life exemplified by her parents. Georgia’s father, Gray Meredith, owner of Long Leaf Builders, cares enough about this upcoming generation to teach construction at Vidalia High School. In addition, her mother, Dr. Susanna Meredith, serves our community as an OBGYN at our local hospital.

The impact of our influence as parents should never be underestimated. Loving and teaching our children is without question the greatest honor and most important mission in a parent’s life. Even so, we all know that their peers and social influences sometimes take precedence. During those short years of adolescence that feel like an eternity, our role becomes monitoring those influences, not as friends, but as parents. And then, it’s truly on them. No amount of good parenting can negate a child’s personal and individual responsibility. The gift of freedom made even the most perfect garden a dangerous place to live. Even paradise required personal choices to remain free. Everyone has to deal with a snake regardless of upbringing or opportunity.

Without question, Georgia’s project Little Feathers Running Club demonstrated exceptional leadership and social-mindedness. But her response to yet another injury demonstrated character on another level altogether. When she had to quit soccer due to concussions, she had turned all her energy toward running. “My friends are my teammates, and I’m really close to my coaches,” she said.

Eventually, Georgia could no longer push through or ignore the

Little Feathers Running Club was such a fun experience for our kids. Never have they been more excited to get up early than on the days they had running club. Little Feathers taught them how to challenge themselves to run farther and faster than the day taught them discipline and commitment to self. They just enjoyed running so it gave them the opportunity to just be kids and run! –Jamie Lewis pain in her knee. The diagnosis was Plica, an inflammation of the fold in the knee. When self-rehabilitation proved unsuccessful, surgery was recommended, which was scheduled during her spring break. With physical therapy, she plans to “come back even stronger and faster for the fall crosscountry season.” In fact, she’s not satisfied with breaking the school’s 5k record. Georgia fully intends to work toward breaking both the 1-mile and

2-mile school records as well.

As for the FCCLA Star event, her presentation was so well received that she was asked to present a workshop at the State Conference on March 24, 2023. More importantly, the overall health and well-being of children and families in our community will continue to benefit from the project, which resumes with cross country season in the fall.

As an upcoming Junior, Georgia always understood that the Little Feathers Running Club was about changing the future. It was a vision compelled by love for her sisters, Claudia and Ginny, and compassion for the kids in her community. Change doesn’t come from angry or frustrated people with only criticism to give. It comes from dreamers who love enough to be on the track at 7:00 a.m. with 4th and 5th graders. For Georgia, this is the race that matters most of all.

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