Nashville Metro Schools to Celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday October 6, 2004
Nashville Metro Schools will be joining schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 6, 2004. Walk to School Day is the kick-off for six, city-wide events celebrating Walk Nashville Week. Approximately 10,000 walkers from 45 participating schools will be walking to school that day along with parents, teachers and community leaders such as Mayor Bill Purcell, Dr. Pedro Garcia of Metro Schools and Dr. Stephanie Bailey of the Metro Health Department.
Nashville, TN (PRWEB) October 3, 2004
Nashville Metro Schools will be joining schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 6, 2004. Walk to School Day is the kick-off for six, city-wide events celebrating Walk Nashville Week.
International Walk to School Day is expected to include 3,000 schools from all 50 states. The mission is to promote health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment. Walkers from the U. S. will join children and adults in 36 countries around the world. The Wednesday event is part of a week of festivities celebrating International Walk to School Week October 4-8, 2004.
Approximately 10,000 walkers from 45 participating schools will be walking to school that day along with parents, teachers and community leaders such as Mayor Bill Purcell, Dr. Pedro Garcia of Metro Schools and Dr. Stephanie Bailey of the Metro Health Department.
This yearÂ’s feature school will be Dan Mills Elementary School located at 4106 Kennedy Avenue in North Nashville. The walk will begin at 7:15 a. m. with kids, parents and community leaders walking from Riverwood Church of Christ at 1904 McGavock Pike. Walkers will arrive at the school in time for classes at 8:00 a. m.
This is the sixth year that the Community Health and Wellness Team has organized this Nashville event. Additionally, Nashville was the first city in the southeast to participate in the International Walk to School event. For additional information about Walk to School or other activities for Walk Nashville Week, please contact Laurel Creech 615.242.5600, ext. 2410 or log on to www. musiccitymoves. org
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International Walk to School Day FACT SHEET
•This is the 6th anniversary of Nashville Walk to School Day. Nashville was the FIRST city in the Southeast to participate in this international event.
•Walk to School Day was established in the United States in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Canada and Great Britain already had walk to school programs in place. In 2000, these three countries joined together to create International Walk to School Day.
•Today, more than 3,000 schools in the USA participate in International Walk to School Day. Nearly 2.5 million people participate in 32 countries as part of International Walk to School.
•Walk to School Day started as a simple idea – children and parents, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity, and the need for safe places to walk and bike. Schools focus on health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.
•The Partnership for a Walkable America is a national coalition working to improve the conditions for walking in America and to encourage more Americans to walk regularly.
•Organizations involved in this year’s event include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention lists these benefits to walking to school:
•Increased physical activity for children.
•May prevent or delay high blood pressure and diabetes.
•Improves strength, builds lean muscle mass and decreases body fat.
•Improves endurance, balance and flexibility.
•Improves academic and sports performance and overall self-image.
•Increases likelihood they will be more physically active adults.
•Improved pedestrian skills.
•Offers children the chance to learn and practice necessary skills.
•Increased independence.
•Decreased reliance on automobiles.
•Decreased neighborhood or school traffic.
•More social interaction and potentially safer neighborhoods.
