Southern Grampians Shire children and families are encouraged to get active this October by taking part in VicHealth’s Walk to School program. The program encourages Victorian primary school kids to walk, ride or scoot to and from school throughout the month of October and build healthy habits for life.
Council will work with local primary schools to deliver a range of activities encouraging more families to walk, ride or scoot to school thanks to a $10,000 grant from VicHealth.
Mayor of Southern Grampians Shire Council Mary-Ann Brown said VicHealth’s Walk to School program is a free, easy and fun way for kids to get active and learn healthy habits for life.
“Council is delighted to be part of this important initiative. We know that regular physical activity is so important to our health and wellbeing.
“Last year 15 local schools participated in this great VicHealth initiative, and we really want to get 100% of our primary school involved this year to make Walk to School bigger and better.
“I encourage all our schools and families to participate so we can help our kids get active and build healthy habits, confidence and friendships,” Cr Brown said.
Each local participating school will hold a launch event where students will receive an information pack on Walk to School activities. There are some fantastic prizes available too with one student from each participating school winning a new bike to encourage ongoing active transport and each school receiving a $150 sports voucher to purchase sports equipment.
VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said each year the Walk to School program continues to grow with more and more schools taking part with fantastic results.
“Last year more than 144,000 kids from over 750 schools across Victoria took part in Walk to School. Together they walked more than 2.2 million kilometres – the equivalent of walking almost 55 times around the world,” Ms Rechter said.
“This year, we hope to see even more local kids getting active as they travel to and from school. If you can’t walk all the way, there are many great opportunities to get involved and support your school. Try parking the car a few blocks from school and walk, ride or scoot the rest”.
Southern Grampians schools can contact Ebony Jenkins on 5551 8475 to find out more about local Walk to School activities, or visit http://www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au for more information.