Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well and Carrollton City Schools celebrated International Walk to School Day with an event recognizing students who participated in a five-week walk/bike challenge.
Students from Carrollton Elementary School and Carrollton Middle School were recognized Wednesday, Oct. 5, for completing the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Walk/Bike Challenge. A celebration tent was set up between the elementary and middle schools on the Carrollton City Schools campus, where students who participated in the challenge were entered into drawings to win prizes. Prizes included a bicycle, kick scooter, pogo sticks and helmets.
“We try to make walking and biking to school fun, and fun is the key,” said Phyllis Head, community liaison for Tanner’s Get Healthy, Live Well. “You want to be healthy because you're living a really active life, having a good time and feeling great. If you design a community in the right way, health just happens.”
The event also featured a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a new bike and pedestrian path in front of the elementary school. The new path was made possible by donations from the Fulford Family Foundation and Grillo and Associates LLC. SRTS focuses on improving the health and safety of children, as well as infrastructure improvements and student traffic education.
“The city is always excited to see infrastructure improvements like this path, which enhance the community by providing safe conditions for children to walk or bike to school,” said Carrollton Mayor Walt Hollingsworth. “Events like these not only encourage physical activity and safety, they also help make the daily trip to school fun.”
The Carrollton GreenBelt trail system, which connects many neighborhoods with the city schools, provides a safe, convenient and fun opportunity for students to walk or bike to school. The walk/bike challenge encourages physical activity on the GreenBelt.
“Our district is lucky to have such supportive, caring parents, and the addition of the new bike and pedestrian path is another way our families and schools are able to partner together to support our students,” said Mark Albertus, superintendent of Carrollton City Schools.
For more details about the challenge, visit www.carrolltoncityschools.net. For more information about Safe Routes to School, visit www.GetHealthyLiveWell.org.