(Estes Park, CO – June 12, 2019) It’s that time of year again -- the time where Black women from around the country make their annual pilgrimage to the Rocky Mountains for a weekend unlike anything they’ve experienced before with GirlTrek’s #StressProtest.

The third annual #StressProtest is a weekend dedicated to self-love, self-exploration and sisterhood to take place Labor Day weekend 2019, August 30-September 2. Set to the backdrop of the Rocky Mountain National Park, a 415-square mile encompass of spectacular mountain environments with more than 300 hiking trails and overlooks as high as 12,000 feet, the #StressProtest is an affordable girl’s trip of outdoor relaxation, mindful moments, workshops on health and wellness topics from natural hair to mental health to pleasure on purpose and more.

And this time it will be even bigger than before with more than 1,000 Black women gathering in the name of radical self-care. Vacation packages are still available. Visit stressprotest.com for more information.

“Self-care is a revolutionary act and at GirlTrek, self-care is the foundation of all that we do,” said GirlTrek cofounder, Vanessa Garrison. “GirlTrek’s #StressProtest 2019 promises to be a life-altering experience that will surely empower women to put themselves first and take control of their health and well-being. The #StressProtest is exactly what we, as Black women, need to rejuvenate our souls and to reclaim our inner peace. The health of Black women is a freedom fight and spending time in nature among other Black women reflecting on sisterhood and the significance of self-love and self-care is just what we need.”

There is a health crisis in America and Black women and girls are among the hardest hit. Every day 137 Black women die from heart disease. This is more than gun violence, HIV/AIDS and smoking combined. And the effects of chronic stress are wearing on Black women mentally, physically and spiritually. Black women die younger and at higher rates than any other group of women in the country: 82% of Black women are currently overweight, 53% are morbidly obese (CDC, 2014), and 95% of Black girls, ages 6-11, will be overweight or obese women by 2034 unless diet and levels of activity change. (Garko, Michael, The Journal of Obesity, 2013).

GirlTrek is a solution. With 170,000 active members and counting, GirlTrek, recently profiled on CNN, encourages Black women and girls -- across all backgrounds and walks of life -- to use radical self-care and walking as the first practical step to leading healthier, more fulfilled lives. GirlTrek is on a mission to inspire 1 million Black women to walk in the direction of their healthiest, most fulfilled lives by 2020 and it all starts with taking the pledge at GirlTrek.org.

WHO: GirlTrek is the largest public health movement and nonprofit for Black women and girls.

WHAT: GirlTrek’s third annual #StressProtest, a radical weekend of self-care for Black women.

WHEN: Labor Day Weekend: August 30, September 2, 2019.

ABOUT: Visit stressprotest.com.

“I promise you will not want to miss what we have in store for you this year. All I can say is that your mama, all of your cousins and your whole crew are going to be hitting you up asking why you didn’t invite them once they find out what went down. It’s going to be that good. Reserve your spot today. Then tell your peoples -- literally -- every Black woman that you know to reserve their spot as well. Right now,” Garrison said.

Contact jewel bush Chief of External Affairs at jewel@girltrek.org to help coordinate media interviews in your media market. Access the 2018 GirlTrek annual report here and visit www.girltrek.org for more information.