Girls on the Run of Mystic adorned River Road with three dozen purple balloons, a healthy coating of rainbow sidewalk chalk, and 16 determined young athletes on Saturday, May 22, during its inaugural 5k celebration.

Due to COVID restrictions, the season-ending event, which typically includes a dozen or more local chapters and a closed running course, was canceled. The Mystic girls voted to plan and host their own independent event, which included a 5k run, bake sale to benefit GOTR, and canned food and clothing drive to benefit Groton Human Services.

The event, which attracted roughly 75 spectators, raised $464 for GOTR and collected six large boxes of donations. Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream donated frozen yogurt to all runners. Charlotte Rodgers, 11, a fifth grader at Pine Point School, crossed the finish line first with a time of 24 minutes, 55 seconds.