BackWalk to School checkpoint challenge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK LAUNCH EVENT
Thousands of pupils step up to the Walk to School Checkpoint Challenge to launch Walk to School Week (17- 21 May)
Primary school pupils from four schools across the UK will be taking part in a very special challenge this week as part of national Walk to School Week 2010.
The Checkpoint Challenge will see children and parents navigating themselves to different checkpoints surrounding their school, collecting tokens featuring Strider, our famous Walk to School mascot. Tokens will then be deposited in large treasure chests in the playground and the class who collects the most Strider Tokens rewarded with a unique trophy.
The Checkpoint Challenge celebrate the start of the eagerly awaited national Walk to School Week, and thousands of children from across the UK will be proudly pounding the pavements to celebrate the benefits of walking to school.
The theme of this years week is ‘Walk Your Way’, which focuses on helping children discover their local area on their walk to school, finding new routes, using directions and gaining confidence and independence on foot. The launch events will give children the chance to explore the area around the school, whilst getting involved in some friendly competition with their peers.
National charity Living Streets, who work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets around the UK, run the highly successful Walk to School campaign, which encourages children, parents and teachers up and down the country to leave their cars at home and walk to school.
Walking to school regularly is a fantastic way to help reach the recommended daily 60 minutes of activity to benefit a child’s health. The number of children walking to school has reached an all time low, with less than half walking to school regularly and an enormous 41% being driven in cars, despite the fact that the average distance to primary schools remains an easily walkable distance of just over one mile. By encouraging families to ditch the car keys and get to school on foot, Walk to School Week will show that its not just PE lessons that are needed to give children the healthiest start in life – it’s how active they are in their daily life that really matters.
Teachers often report that those pupils who walk to school are more attentive in class. And it’s no surprise – the levels of physical activity undertaken by primary school age children are often greatly overestimated by parents. By simply walking to school and back each day, the average child will already be spending more time physically active than is provided for by the national curriculum.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“We are really excited to be holding Walk to School Week launch events across the UK and hope that the Checkpoint Challenge challenge inspires children to get into the walking habit. Walking is a brilliant way to get some physical activity and some fresh air into your day. When children are bundled from front door to car door, they miss out on the opportunity to socialise with friends, get to know their community, and burn off some energy before getting their heads down in the books.
“If we are to avoid the Government’s prediction of a quarter of our children being obese by 2050, we need to start making changes to our lifestyle now. We would love everyone who normally drives the school run to use this week as an excuse to try walking. We think you’ll be amazed at how enjoyable a regular walk can be; a chance to spend real quality time together, and reap health rewards for all the family.”
MEDIA: Journalists and photographers are invited to attend the schools to watch children wearing their Walk to School t-shirts, collect their Strider Tokens and add them to the treasure chests. You are advised to reach the school at [time] to meet the children and their families as they walk to school and join in the activities.
Notes to editors
For more information contact Anna Powell, Press Officer on 0207 377 4914 or email anna.powell@livingstreets.org.uk. For any out of hours press enquiries, please call 07545 209865.
The schools taking part in this year’s Checkpoint Challenge are:
Ingleby Mill Primary School, Stockton-on-Tees
Woodside Primary School, Dudley
St. James Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
St. Augustine’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Lewisham
Living Streets’ Walk to School campaign is supported by the Department for Transport, Transport for London, ACTravelwise and Modeshift, and delivered in partnership with local organisers throughout England.
The Walk to School campaign encourages primary school pupils, parents and staff to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives by walking to and from school wherever possible. Visit www.walktoschool.org.uk for more information.
Living Streets is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. With our supporters we work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk.
We have been the national voice for pedestrians throughout our 80 year history. In the early years, our campaigning led to the introduction of the driving test, pedestrian crossings and 30mph speed limits. Since then our ambition has grown. Today we influence decision makers nationally and locally, run successful projects to encourage people to walk, and provide specialist consultancy services to help reduce congestion and carbon emissions, improve public health, and make sure every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.
Published on: 13/05/2010
