Dear Fast and Female community,
It is crucial that kids participate in physical activity from a young age. It helps us develop skills such as perseverance, confidence and collaboration as well as building a healthy relationship with one’s body to be set up for success to be active for life. Sadly, by age 14, girls drop out of sport at twice the rate of boys and this is why Fast and Female is on a mission to help keep self-identified girls in sports.
My name is Breagh Bridge, and I have had the privilege of being a part of this amazing organization since 2021 as a member of their Youth Advisory Council. I am a competitive Nordic Skier, but until I was 12, I had never been on Nordic Skis! I have played other sports my whole life but it took a while to find the sport I am passionate about. My goal is to help other girls find the sport that motivates them like I did. I have had the opportunity to put on events in my local community and collaborate with other young women across the country to share our thoughts and experiences to help build Fast and Female into the empowering charity that it is. I hope to continue to be a part of this organization as it grows, reaching as many girls across Canada as possible. This growth is made possible by donors like you!
In my hometown of Kelowna, BC, on the traditional, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People I have hosted two events that I truly feel had an impact on the girls who participated. One of these was at a local hiking area where girls and Role Models with a wide range of sports backgrounds met up to play field games and go for a hike. It was motivating for me to listen to the girls chatting with each other about their different sports, and some who didn’t play any organized sports at all were joining the conversation. Everyone was excited to be hiking and enjoying the outdoors together. Afterwards, I had the joy of reading their participant surveys. I was thrilled to read on each paper how every girl said something to the effect of “I didn’t know I could do a hike this long but it was so fun with this group!” or “can we do this more often?”.
There is no better proof than these quotes that building a community through Fast and Female will not only empower girls to stay active for the rest of their lives but also create space for them to have fun! Girls who are having fun in a supportive environment where physical activity is promoted will be motivated, positive people who will grow up to do big things in and out of the sporting community. Fast and Female supports this goal by facilitating these events and making them accessible to everyone. You too, can help us reach this goal by donating today!
As someone who has participated in a wide range of sports from a young age but struggled to find a sport that truly motivated me, I know what it feels like to be without physical activity and this allows me to truly recognise the benefits that my sport has given me. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to share my story with as many girls as possible with the help of Fast and Female.
I am writing to you, today, to ask you to please join me in supporting Fast and Female this #GIVINGTUESDAY so we may continue to reach as many youth across Canada!
See you on the trails,
Breagh Bridge, Youth Advisory Council Member