Walk To School Day on Oct. 5 highlights benefits of family exercise

DUPAGE COUNTY—The DuPage County Health Department, as part of its campaign to reduce childhood obesity, is urging DuPage County school children to walk or bike to school on Wednesday, Oct. 5, to increase physical activity among families and highlight healthier lifestyles.

Promoting more activity is the goal of FORWARD (Fighting Obesity Reaching healthy Weight among Residents of DuPage), the obesity prevention initiative directed by the Health Department.

Linda Kurzawa, president of the DuPage County Board of Health, said, “Walking to school on Oct. 5 is a great idea and the health department recommends that families and their children look for ways to get more exercise every day.”

Walk to School Day is an international activity to celebrate the many benefits of safely walking or bicycling to school as a way to encourage more families to get out of their cars and onto their feet in October.

Walk to School Day has been observed for 14 years in more than 40 countries. It's part of First Lady Michelle Obama's “Let's Move!” Campaign to increase physical activity among children and to empower parents to make these kinds of healthy choices.

Walk to School Day began as a simple idea – children and parents, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity, and the need for safe places to walk and bike. Schools focus on health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.

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