Community groups come together to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Oct. 3 | Eastern North Carolina Now

For Immediate Release / Media Advisory:

     WHAT:    Students and representatives from several community organizations will be joining schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

      Students and volunteers will walk from school with students to identify unsafe intersections, streets needing sidewalks and dangerous pedestrian areas.

      WHO:    The following will be participating:

      Students and parents from H.B. Sugg and Sam Bundy schools at 2:30 p.m. and Farmville Middle and Farmville Central High Schools at 3:30 p.m.

      Community leaders from the Farmville Police Department, Farmville Fire/Rescue Farmville Central cheerleaders and band members Representatives from Safe Communities Coalition of Pitt County, SAFE KIDS Pitt County, the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program, Kohl’s, and Fed Ex.

      WHEN:    Wednesday, Oct. 3

      WHERE:    Corner of Grimmersburg Street and the entrance to Farmville Middle School at the Safe Kids tent.

      SIGNIFICANCE:    According to the National Center for Health Statistics, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages three to 14 worldwide. While the number of child pedestrians injured in traffic crashes is decreasing in the United States, more than 14,000 children, ages 14 and under went to the emergency room and 244 children died from pedestrian-related injuries in 2010. Safe Kids Pitt County activities are designed to help children walk safely all year round.

     In the U.S., International Walk to School Day is expected to include 5,000 schools from all 50 states. Walkers from the U.S. will join more than three million children and adults in 40 countries around the world.

      Walk to School events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections among families, schools and the broader community.

      This event is sponsored by SAFE KIDS Pitt County in partnership with the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program.

      CONTACT: Ellen M. Walston, Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program, (252) 847-8532.

For more information, visit: International Walk to School in the USA www.walktoschool.org National Center for Safe Routes to School www.saferoutesinfo.org International Walk to School www.iwalktoschool.org


    Contact: Beth Anne Atkins, Vidant Health Strategic Development, (252) 847-7735 or beth.atkins@VidantHealth.com

    Vidant Health, a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in nine eastern North Carolina hospitals and has a management agreement with one other. The health system includes Albemarle Health, Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Vidant Bertie Hospital, Vidant Chowan Hospital, Vidant Duplin Hospital, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, The Outer Banks Hospital, Vidant Medical Center, Vidant Pungo Hospital, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Vidant Home Health and Hospice, Vidant Wellness Centers, Vidant Medical Group and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.vidanthealth.com.