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This article was published on Tuesday, 2 October, 2018. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Greater Shepparton City Council calls for local families to walk, ride and scoot to school

Every October, Walk to School month encourages kids and families to get active on the trip to and from school to help build healthy habits for life.

Greater Shepparton City Council will work with local primary schools to deliver a range of activities encouraging more families to walk, ride or scoot to school this October thanks to funding of $10,000 from VicHealth

To support the program, Greater Shepparton City Council will develop safe travel maps including drop/park walk zones supported by decals and stencil art along footpaths and develop a promotional video campaign featuring local primary schools.

Local kids are also encouraged to put their creativity on show by decorating their shoes, bikes and scooters to show off on the way to school.

Kaye Thomson, Director Community 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.

“Greater Shepparton City Council is delighted to support Walk to School in Greater Shepparton to encourage more kids to be active on the way to and from school,” Kaye said.

“Last year 7 local schools participated in this great VicHealth initiative, and we encourage more primary schools to get involved this year to make Walk to School bigger and better.”

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.

“Walking, riding or scooting to and from school every day is an easy way to make physical activity part of kids’ daily life which is why our Walk to School program is so important,” Ms Rechter said.

“Last year more than 140,000 kids from over 750 schools across Victoria took part in Walk to School and walked the equivalent of two return trips to the moon. This year we hope to get even more schools involved in the program to improve the health of our kids.”

Local schools who take part in Walk to School will also be in the running to win specialised AFL Footy Clinics with an AFL or AFLW player.

Schools and Councils can now register at the Walk to School website on www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au