Nine WCPSS Schools take part in 2004 Walk to School Day
Oct. 1, 2004 - On Wednesday, October 6th, nine Wake County elementary schools
will participate in the 2004 Walk to School project as a part of a national
event involving over 3,000 schools. The purpose of the project is to bring
greater community awareness to our nation's obesity and type II diabetes
epidemic and to encourage families to take a more active role in the prevention
of premature death due to heart attack, stoke, hypertension, and physical
inactivity.
Each of the participating schools has been able to rally the support of local and state leaders who will be participating in the walk with their students and parents. Celebrity walkers include: Antonio Pettigrew, two-time Olympian and Gold Medal winner; Duane Ross, 2004 Olympic Track and Field Star; Darryl Jernigan, Governor's Highway Safety Program; Vivian Jones, Mayor of Wake Forest; local police and fire departments; Jim McDonald, director of Velocity Sports Performance; county comissioners; and school board members
This is Wake County's fourth year for participating in Walk to School Day. Support from Wake Med, the Wake County Fitness Council, and SAFE KIDS has been instrumental in coordinating the 1000's of children and parents that will participate in the 2004 Walk to School project.
Listed below are the seven schools, start times, and school contact information:
- Baucom Elementary (Apex, NC) is expecting more than 200 students, parents,
and teachers to participate. The Mayor of Apex, members of the Apex Fire
Department, and members of the Apex Police Department will also participate.
They also plan on having numerous Apex community leaders as well as members
of the Apex Police and Fire Departments to walk with the children. They
will begin from C.C. Jones Memorial Park at 7:30 am.
- Wakefield Elementary (North Raleigh) - is expecting over 200 students,
parents, and teachers to participate. This event is being supported by
Wake Med with special guest Ann Hulslander. Last year, they had the State
Police, Raleigh Police, the Sheriff's Motorcycle Unit and representatives
form First Responders to lead their walk. They anticipate the similar
support for this year's event. They will begin at the Wakefield TPC Golf
Course parking lot at 8:15 am.
- Olive Chapel Elementary (Apex, NC) will have Olympian Duane Ross as
their Star Celebrity for this event. This year's event is organized by
the Olive Chapel Walk to School Coalition which holds a weekly "Walking
Wednesday."
A.B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary (Raleigh, NC) is expecting over 200 students, parents, and teachers to participate. The walk will begin at Western Presbyterian Church at the corner of Kaplan and Lorimer at 7:45 am. - Poe Montessori Magnet Elementary (Raleigh, NC) is expected to have over
300 students, teachers, and parents. Community leaders have been invited
to participate in Poe's "Walk at School" event. Gold medal Olympian,
Antonio Pettigrew will be the Celebrity Star at this event. It will start
at 8:30 AM.
- York Elementary (Raleigh, NC) is expected to have about 75 students,
teachers, and parents. Community leaders have been invited to participate
in this year's Walk to School event. They will begin from the Brookhaven
Nature Park at 8:15 am.
- Wake Forest Elementary (Wake Forest, NC) is expected to have over 400
students, teachers, and parents. Community leaders include Vivian Jones,
Mayor of Wake Forest; Chip Russell, Planning Director of Wake Forest;
Susan Simpson, Park and Recreation Director of Wake Forest. Walkers will
gather at the 400 block of Elm Street in the parking lot in front of the
CVS pharmacy at 8:45 AM.
- Oak Grove Elementary (Raleigh, NC) is expected to have about 100 students,
teachers, and parents. Community leaders have been invited to participate
in this year's "Walk at School" event that will take place on
the school's track from 8:15-9:00 AM.
- North Ridge Elementary (Raleigh, NC) is expected to have about 800 students, teachers, and parents. Community leaders have been invited to participate in this year's "Walk at School" event that will take place on the school's track from 9:30 AM.