A Special Projects Grant from the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers to Stanley Street Treatment and Resources (SSTAR) is giving Medical Director Holly Alexandre the chance to meet with twenty Kuss Middle School girls twice a week as they prepare to participate in the Thomas Giunta Memorial 5K race on April 1, 2012. "The grant pays for the time that I would normally be at the clinic," states Alexandre, an avid athlete who came up with the idea for the grant. "I not only get to help the girls get into better shape physically, I also have a chance to talk about topics that are of concern to them mentally and emotionally," she adds. The group talks over a range of topics including bullying, sexuality, and substance abuse while they stretch in preparation for their runs. Click here for a three-minute video of the group and here for the Herald News article. To learn more, contact CEO Holly Alexandre, M.D. at 508-324-3500.

(Top row) Dr. Alexandre shows the girls the front-page newspaper article about them as they prepare to go outside for their work-out. (Middle row) The girls assemble in a circle while they do stretches and talk about a range of health topics. (Bottom row) The girls participate in a series of exercises before running to build up their endurance for the coming race.