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News Releas Walk to School Day <br /> September 2 , 2001 <br /> Page 2 <br /> The P rtnership for a Walkable America established Walk to School Day to encourage <br /> parents to wal to school with their children in an effort to promote physical activity, pedestrian <br /> safety and to ecome aware of the difficulties children face on their trip each day. According to <br /> Dr. Jane Moo a of the Oregon Health Division, 16.5% of Oregon school children are either at <br /> risk of becomi g overweight or are already overweight. <br /> The fir t event was launched in 1997 when Mayor Daley led local officials and school <br /> <br /> i <br /> children on a alk to school in Chicago. Since then, the event has grown considerably. In the <br /> year 2000 the a were over two million walkers from 9 countries across the globe. This year <br /> walkers from ore than 18 countries are expected to participate including the United States, <br /> <br /> I <br /> <br /> 'I Canada, Grea Britain, Australia, Cyprus, Sweden, Brazil, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, India, <br /> <br /> li France, Denm rk, Italy, Chile, Mexico, Germany and Argentina. Safe Kids Coalition, FedX, and <br /> LL Bean have provided materials for national Walk to School Day. <br /> <br /> 'i <br /> [NOTE TO ED TORS: PLEASE CONTACT DIANE BISHOP AT 682-5471 TO ARRANGE <br /> PHOTOS OR NTERVIEWS ON SPECIFIC WALK-TO-SCHOOL ROUTES.] <br /> <br /> i <br /> <br /> I <br /> <br /> ~~I <br /> <br />