School children in several communities will hop on a bicycle or take a stroll to school on Wednesday as part of a statewide effort to stay healthy and safe.
The students, along with teachers, parents and community members, will be participating in the national Walk to School Day, which is Wednesday. In North Carolina, more than 250 communities and schools will take part in what organizers describe as an opportunity to teach children the importance of a daily dose of exercise and street safety.
In Johnston County, Walk to School events will take place at Cooper Elementary, Four Oaks Elementary, Glendale-Kenly Elementary, Micro Elementary, Powhatan Elementary, Riverwood Elementary and Riverwood Middle Schools.
Recent research shows children can achieve about a quarter of their daily recommended physical activity simply by walking or biking to school. According to the Centers for Disease Control and research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, students who get more physical activity have better academic success than those who do not.
