FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Alameda, CA, September 27, 2007

Walk & Roll with Your Kids

Watch for Walking School Buses and Bike Trains on Wednesday, October 3, as Alameda joins the International Walk to School Week with its Seventh Annual Walk & Roll to School Day. This event gives children, parents, teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event, held in over 40 countries, as they celebrate the benefits of walking and bicycling to school. All Alameda Unified School District elementary schools, and Lincoln and Chipman middle schools are participating. Walking School Buses will be led by parents and by community leaders.

The event’s goal is to promote health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment. Even parents who must drive their children to school can participate by parking a few blocks away and walking the rest of the way. To reinforce the fitness and nutrition message, “Shape up Alameda” exercise routines, led by local fitness center trainers and AUSD PE instructors, will be held at the participating elementary schools prior to the beginning of classes.

City Council and Board of Education members, city staff, Police department officers, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools Sheila Jordan, Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, and many others, will participate in the event, along with over 4000 Alameda elementary and middle school youth.

“It's incredible that our students here in Alameda will be doing something as simple and yet as beneficial, for themselves and our community, as walking on the same day as students around the world. This should not be encouraged and supported every day and we applaud those students and parents who are making walking or bicycling to school a natural part of their day. We want to acknowledge and thank the local companies for their support and community spirit: Abbott Diabetes Care, Bank of Alameda, Curves, Kaiser Permanente, and Rotary,” said Trish Spencer, president, Alameda PTA Council.

The Alameda PTA Council, Alameda Hospital, Pedestrian Friendly Alameda (PFA), and the University of California Extension Bay Area Children’s Power Play Campaign, in cooperation with the Alameda Unified School District, are sponsoring the event. The PTA Council and the Alameda Unified School District are members of the Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth & Their Families.

Local, regional, national, and international groups sponsor Walk to School Day. For more information, please visit www.iwalktoschool.com/ or www.cawalktoschool.com. For Alameda pedestrian safety information, please visit www.pedfriendly.com

CONTACTS:

Audrey Lord-Hausman: 510-522-4651
Trish Spencer, 510-769-9143

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