Did You Know Today Is National Walk Your Child to School Day?

October 06, 2010

As I was waking up this morning, I heard on the radio that it’s National Walk Your Child to School Day. I looked it up on the internet, and it’s true. A group in Chicago started this in 1997 with the mission of bringing community leaders and children together to create awareness of the need for communities to be walkable. Some of the desired results of today’s event are to create safer walking routes, to engage kids of all abilities, and to notice and improve the environment.

Of course, walking anywhere anytime is a good idea. Health professionals have been recommending it over and over again. Walking for at least 30 minutes a day is the minimum. It helps prevent heart disease, type II diabetes, and breast and colon cancer.

Best selling crime and mystery writer Lawrence Block did a non-fiction book on walking last year. It is titled Step by step: A Pedestrian Memoir. Before Block was a famous author, he was a racewalker. He had no car when he started college, and walked from place to place. He shares his personal story about life's everyday trials, and his discomforts and successes while on foot.

If you are ready for a bit of a life-style change, the library is a great place to start.  We have information on walking for sport and health. Walk in and see us today.

Howard B.
Dearborn Branch