[Press Release] : PedNet's plan for Walking School Bus Program announced

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 27, 2006

CONTACT: Margy Tonnies
Walking School Bus Coordinator
(573) 864-2556
matonnies at hotmail.com 
or
Ian Thomas
 PedNet Executive Director
(573) 445-2928
pednet at pednet.org 

PedNet's plan for Walking School Bus Program announced
								
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - The PedNet Coalition is registering children
for its spring Walking School Bus (WSB) Program and is also recruiting
adult "drivers." The program is available to children attending
Grant, Russell, Ridgeway, West Boulevard and Lee Elementary Schools and
will run from Monday, April 3, through Friday, June 2.  Information on
the WSB Program was sent home to parents of children attending these
five schools earlier this month.  
	The program is set up so families living close to their
child's school will have walking school bus routes that run through
their neighborhoods. For those living farther away, including those
attending Ridgeway and Lee magnet schools, staging posts will be set up
where children can be dropped off for the supervised walk to school.  
	Adult Walking School Bus "drivers" are needed for the
program. Volunteers will lead WSB teams two or three mornings per week
for the nine weeks of the program. A training/orientation will be
provided in mid-March.  
	Walking to school is an easy way for children (and adults) to
get the 30-60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the
risk of chronic disease. Other benefits include reduced traffic
congestion and air pollution around schools, increased community
connections, and children able to focus better in the classroom.  
	Funding for this program comes from the Missouri Foundation for
Health's Healthy & Active Communities grant which was awarded to the
Columbia/Boone County Health Department (CBCHD) in late 2005. The PedNet
Coalition is one of many organizations/businesses to collaborate with
the CBCHD to promote physical activity and good nutrition to children
and families within the area.
	If you would like further information on the program, its routes
or to apply to be an adult "driver", please contact Margy Tonnies at
(573) 864-2556.

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