Berkeley, California (Thursday, September 27, 2007)--  Berkeley students will be walking and rolling to school next week, along with thousands of other students across the world.

Seven Berkeley schools will be celebrating International Walk and Roll to School Day this year: Jefferson, Thousand Oaks, LeConte, Malcolm X, Berkeley Arts Magnet, Rosa Parks, and Washington, Elementary School. The City of Berkeley Injury Prevention Program and Alameda County Safe Routes To School sponsor the event to promote walking and riding to school and work.

The event will begin and hour before school starts in the playground area, where staff, students, and their families will be welcomed. Participants will get a sticker and a goody bag filled with goodies.

Whether it is walking to school, parking a few blocks from your destination, or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator, daily walking gives great health benefits. International Walk and Roll to School Day is held to remind everyone of the fun, cheap, simple joy of walking. 

The event is also an opportunity teach children safe walking and biking behavior and to raise awareness of traffic congestion near schools and the risk of childhood obesity. Studies have shown that 68 percent of students in Alameda County are not physically fit, parents dropping students off account for 25 percent of morning traffic, and only 10 percent of children walk to school.

To learn more about National Walk to School Day, visit the official website at www.walktoschool-usa.org.

For additional information about this event in Berkeley, contact Promise Nwozuzu at 510-981-7676 or email pnwozuzu@ci.berkeley.ca.us.

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