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For Immediate Release: October 3, 2011
Children around the globe walk toward a lifetime of healthy habits International Walk to School Day is October 5, 2011
Brevard County, FL – On Wednesday, October 5, 2011 school children from all 50 states will join thousands across the world who are making the commitment to lead healthier lifestyles by walking or bicycling to school on International Walk to School Day. There is encouraging evidence that more and more schools are holding Walk to School Day events as catalysts to getting kids up and active all year long. In fact, this year there are 38 schools registered in Brevard County. This is the largest number of schools ever reported as participating in Walk to School Day events. Walking and bicycling to school can benefit children in a variety of ways. A number of parents and teachers have commented that children arrive more alert and ready for the day when they walk to school. Public health officials have pointed to physical activity and safe places to walk and bicycle as factors in curbing the obesity epidemic among America’s youth. In addition to physical activity, Walk to School programs emphasize the importance of other issues such as pedestrian safety, traffic congestion surrounding schools and concern for the environment. 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. The idea is to walk to school together with a purpose – to promote health, safety, physical activity, a sense of community and concern for the environment. The 2011 event marks the 14th International Walk to School Day. The event began in the U.S. with one school in Chicago in 1997 and has grown to more than 5,000 schools in the U.S. Worldwide. Walkers in the US will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world. Brevard’s Walk to School events are conducted as part of Safe Routes to School programs – sustained, community efforts to improve the health and well-being of children by making walking and bicycling to school safer, easier and more enjoyable. Established in May 2006, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration, the National Center for Safe Routes to School assists communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bicycle to school. The Center strives to equip Safe Routes to School programs with the knowledge and technical information to implement safe and successful strategies. The Center serves as the coordinating agency for Walk to School activities in the U.S. ### Participating Brevard Schools
School City Date Roy Allen Elementary Melbourne October 5,2011 Apollo Elementary Titusville October 5,2011 Atlantis Elementary Titusville October 5,2011 Audubon Elementary Merritt Island October 5,2011 Cambridge Elementary Cocoa October 5,2011 Cape View Elementary Cape Canaveral October 5,2011 Clearlake Middle Cocoa October 5,2011 Columbia Elementary Palm Bay October 5,2011 Coquina Elementary Titusville October 5,2011 Croton Elementary Melbourne October 5,2011 Discovery Elementary Palm Bay October 5,2011 Endeavor Elementary** Cocoa October 5,2011 Enterprise Elementary Cocoa October 5,2011 Fairglen Elementary Cocoa October 5,2011 Gemini Elementary Melbourne Beach October 5,2011 Golfview Elementary** Rockledge October 5,2011 Harbor City Elementary Melbourne October 5,2011 Holland Elementary Satellite Beach October 5,2011 Imperial Estates Elementary Titusville October 5,2011 Indialantic Elementary Indialantic October 5,2011 Lewis Carroll Elementary Merritt Island October 5,2011 Jupiter Elementary Palm Bay October 5,2011 Longleaf Elementary Melbourne October 5,2011 Manatee Elementary Viera October 5,2011 McAuliffe Elementary Palm Bay October 5,2011 Oak Park Elementary Titusville October 5,2011 Ocean Breeze Elementary Indian Harbor Bch October 5,2011 Odyssey Charter Palm Bay October 5,2011 Palm Bay Elementary Palm Bay October 5,2011 Port Malabar Elementary Palm Bay October 5,2011 Quest Elementary Viera October 5,2011 Roosevelt Elementary Cocoa Beach October 5,2011 Sabal Elementary Melbourne October 5,2011 Sea Park Elementary Satellite Beach October 14,2011 Suntree Elementary Melbourne October 5,2011 Turner Elementary Palm Bay October 5,2011 Westside Elementary Palm Bay October 5,2011
** This is the sixth year that Safe Kids Brevard has sponsored activities for International Walk to School Day as part of the Safe Kids Walk This Way program. Some of the activities this year include Safe Kids Walk This Way walks to be held at Golfview Elementary in Rockledge and Endeavor Elementary in Cocoa
About International Walk to School Day
· In May 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School was established to assist communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school.
For more information contact: Kim Smith, Space Coast TPO, 321-690-6890 - BPS -
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