(Tulsa, OK) Students throughout Tulsa and Oklahoma City Counties will be lacing up their walking shoes this Wednesday, October 5th in observance of International Walk to School Day.
Studies show that fewer children are walking and biking to school, and more children are at risk of becoming overweight. In an effort to curb obesity trends across the state, the Tulsa and Oklahoma City-County Health Departments are working together to encourage children to exercise more and improve their health by either walking or bicycling to and from school. In support of their efforts, the Mayor’s Office in Tulsa has declared October 5th as the official International Walk to School Day for the City.
The Tulsa Health Department’s It’s All About Kids Program worked with several local schools to coordinate walking events and programs. Approximately 150 students from Roy Clark, McKinley, and Penn Elementary Schools will be walking home from school along with parents, teachers, and community leaders.
In the U.S., International Walk to School Day is expected to be celebrated at over 3,500 events at participating schools. Walkers from the U.S. will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world.
Walk to School events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.
The It’s All About Kids Program is a prevention program for elementary school-aged children that encourages kids to make healthy choices and habits for a brighter future. Focused on reducing obesity, improving school performance and decision-making skills, the program is modeled after the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Coordinated School Health Program.
For more information about this event, please contact Charley Daniel at (918) 595-4084.
