In the Community

October 2, 2012

Kaiser Permanente and Safe Routes to School National Partnership Team Up to Celebrate 2012 International Walk to School Day

Nationwide series of events highlight importance of safe environments for physical activity

Each year, as part of its continuing commitment to building healthy communities, Kaiser Permanente physicians and employees engage in walk-to-school activities with families and students to mark International Walk to School Day. This year's event is on Oct. 3, and Kaiser Permanente and Safe Routes to School National Partnership are teaming up on a series of events to increase awareness about the need for walkable and bikeable communities.

Since 1997, communities and schools have been using International Walk to School Day as an opportunity to change community culture and create options for getting around that foster greater physical activity and are more inviting for people of all ages. International Walk to School Day exposes children and their families to the benefits of walking and biking to school and encourages them to engage in these activities year-round.

This year’s day of celebration holds added prominence for Kaiser Permanente with its recent announcement of an expanded partnership with Safe Routes to School National Partnership that will help to bring walking and greater physical activity to school communities across the country.

“International Walk to School Day and our expanded alliance with Safe Routes to School National Partnership are a key part of our prevention strategy at Kaiser Permanente,” says Tyler Norris, vice president, total health partnerships at Kaiser Permanente. “We know that prevention isn’t just something that happens in the doctor’s office; it happens in schools and neighborhoods too. There is no simpler, more powerful, more enjoyable thing we can do for our health than taking a brisk walk. We need to work together to make our communities healthier, and that includes making walking and all types of physical activity part of everyday life.”

Statistics show that children are less physically active today than ever before, with nearly one quarter of children getting no physical activity at all. In 1969, nearly half of all children in the U.S. walked or bicycled to and from school; today, that number has plummeted to 13 percent. Not coincidentally, rates of childhood obesity in the United States have increased dramatically in the past 40 years, and lack of physical activity for children has been identified as one of the key factors.

International Walk to School Day activities are taking place across Kaiser Permanente’s regions nationwide. The organization encourages parents and children to participate in International Walk to School Day events at their local schools.

‘Walk to School’ Day Events | Map your route to school »