Walk to School Day planned for Sandpoint area students

At 7:30 a.m.Wednesday, Oct. 3, students from Washington, Kootenai and Farmin-Stidwell Elementaries, Sandpoint Middle School, Sandpoint Charter School and Lake Pend Oreille High School will participate in Inter-national Walk to School Day.

These local students will be joining children from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India and Norway, just to name a few, united with one common purpose: to promote physical activity for children.

According to the Surgeon General, the prevalence of obese and overweight children in our country has nearly tripled in the past two decades. Our kids are following our lead. They eat what we eat and are adopting the sedentary lifestyle of their parents.

It is time to break the cycle. In 2005 the US Government launched a campaign to see how Americans are doing in preventing future generations from becoming obese and suffering all the health problems that go with it. They surveyed school districts nationwide and graded them on the results they found. Idaho received an "F."

So, it's up to us, as parents, grandparents, and friends to set a good example and keep our kids healthy. Walking to school is a great start!

To participate, students living within walking distance will gather at a number of meeting points and buses will drop students at carefully planned locations. Walking groups from these spots, overseen by parents, staff and community leaders, will escort the kids to their respective schools. Parents are encouraged to walk with their children, possibly starting a healthy family routine.

Safeway Food and Drug, Bonner General Hospital, the Rotary clubs of Sandpoint and Ponderay, the Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint Building Supply, Staples, and Idaho Safe Routes to School are the major community sponsors. Your community support is greatly appreciated!

To learn more about Walk to School Day, visit the official national Web site at www.walktoschool.org.

Contacts for this event include Molly O'Reilly at (208) 255-7336; and participating school principals and administrators.