I LOVE this initiative!! Why aren’t all local television stations announcing WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK???

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Since Monday, schools nationwide have been participating in the annual Walk to School Week, which encourages children and their parents to walk or bike to school, the Manitowoc Herald Times reports. Supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the initiative seeks to engage children in simple physical activities that can help reduce obesity and stave off obesity-related illnesses. According to a National Safe Routes to School report, walking to school daily across 180 school days provides an average of 120 extra hours of physical activity per child. In addition, families can save 1,674 gallons of gas for every 100 students who walk to school rather than have their parents drive them. The week culminates October 8, with national Walk to School Day. According to the National Center for Safe Routes to Schools Web site, more than 2,756 schools across all 50 states participated in Walk to School Day in 2007 (Millard, Manitowoc Herald Times, 10/6/08; International Walk to School in the USA Web site). (Editor’s note: RWJF provides support to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a network of more than 250 organizations and professional groups working to set goals, share best practices, secure funding and inform agencies that implement SRTS.

WALK!!