Submitted photos – 60 participants showed up at College of the Redwoods for the North Coast National Girls and Women in Sports Day earlier this month.
A large group of young North Coast girls recently learned just how important and beneficial competing in sports can be.
Organized by Del Norte junior three-sport student-athlete Bliss Blackburn, a North Coast National Girls and Women in Sports Day was held at College of the Redwoods on March 8 and the response from the local community was encouraging.
A total of 60 local girls from fifth through 12th grade participated at the event, including a busload of 20 girls from Del Norte County who traveled together for the event.
And, according to Blackburn, the event was a success.
“I thought it was a lot of fun,” the high school junior said. “I thought the girls got a lot of information from the day.”
The day included guest speakers, current topics, games and prizes, as well as a free lunch and free sweatshirt for all participants.
Former Eureka Logger Wendy Figas, who is is a quadruple amputee because of sepsis, served as the keynote speaker for the day and her message to the young student-athletes was inspiring.
“Her message was how everything she learned as an athlete helped her rebuild her life,” Blackburn said. “Her level of fitness, her mindset, how competing in sports helped her overcome the worst circumstances that sepsis brought her.”
According to Blackburn, 70 percent of young girls who compete in sports drop out by age 13.
And stressing the importance of continuing to play sports was the main goal of the day.
“The big thing I wanted to get through was the reasons to keep playing.” The event organizer said. “And the benefits that sports bring to girls.”
Blackburn should know.
The Del Norte student-athlete competes all year round, playing volleyball, basketball and softball.
She also is a member of the H-DN Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and organized the day with the help of Fortuna Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Kristie Christiansen, who works closely with SACC.
And Blackburn is hoping the message will continue to resonate with young girls in Humboldt and Del Norte counties through the end of the school year.
The event inspired her to initiate a nine-mile challenge on Instagram, encouraging girls throughout the North Coast to participate over the next two months.
“They can run, walk, bike, swim, skate, whatever they like and try to do nine miles by the end of the (school) year in June,” Blackburn said.
And she plans on hosting another North Coast National Girls and Women in Sports Day next year.
“Overall it was a good day and I’m really proud to help organize it,” she said. “And I’m excited to plan for next year.”
Several local businesses helped supported the event, including the Duncan family and Red Sky Roofing, Seafront Bakery, Fog Bank Clothing and Soroptimist International of Del Norte.
