[Press Release] : press release

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2005

CONTACT: Ian Thomas
The PedNet Coalition
(573) 445-2928
pednet at pednet.org 
or
Stacia Reilly
Columbia/Boone County Health Department
(573) 874-6345
srreilly at GoColumbiaMo.com 

International Walk To School Day
									
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - With fuel costs climbing, driving children to school is becoming increasingly expensive. There is an alternative that will reduce the need to fill up with fuel so regularly-walking to school! Columbia Public School students and parents are encouraged to join millions of families around the world to walk to school on "International Walk To School Day" Wednesday, Oct. 5. 
	Walk to School Day is an opportunity to:
	*	encourage physical activity,
	*	increase awareness of how "walkable" a community is,
	*	raise concern for the environment,
	*	reduce crime,
	*	spend more family time together,
	*	reduce traffic congestion, pollution and speed near schools, and to
	*	mobilize communities to work together to create safe routes.
	For children attending Grant, Russell, Ridgeway or West Boulevard, there is a special event the morning of Oct. 5 for walkers. If you live too far away, staging posts will be set up where you can drop off your kids for the supervised walk to school. There are many local celebrities joining these groups including Mike Alden, Fred Parry, Don Stamper and Almeta Crayton.
	Other schools have received "Walk to School" resource packs-call your child's school to find out if they are organizing a walk to school event or simply walk your child to school.
	If most families who regularly drive short trips to school were to respond positively by walking together just part of the way, amazing differences would be noticed-not least the fact that they would not have to fill up with fuel as often.
	This event is sponsored by the Active Living By Design project of the PedNet Coalition and the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, along with the Safe Kids Coalition. 

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