Children participate in International Walk to School Day

Nearly 600 schools nationwide join to promote pedestrian safety

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Safe Kids Alaska, FedEx volunteers, Anchorage School District, Anchorage Police Department and Anchorage Fire Department will join Anchorage students at Tudor Elementary School to celebrate International Walk to School Day with the Safe Kids Alaska “Walk this Way” program on Wednesday, Oct. 2.  

The activities are designed to help educate children and families about the importance of pedestrian safety and wintertime visibility. Volunteers will walk to school with students and serve as crossing guards to encourage safe pedestrian behavior, promote driver awareness of pedestrians and educate students regarding the importance of reflective clothing. 

Event details

• Who: Safe Kids Alaska State Coalition; Anchorage School District administrators; Dale Shaw, Fed Ex Anchorage managing director; members of the Anchorage School Board; Tudor Elementary School staff, parents and community leaders; and other volunteers from the Anchorage School Board, Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage Fire Department and Anchorage Police Department.
• What: Volunteers will “Walk this Way” with students to Tudor Elementary School during the 20th International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The event advocates for safer walking environments for children, encouraging safe pedestrian behavior, promoting driver awareness of pedestrians, and educating students about the importance of reflective clothing. 

Visuals will include students carrying banners, a “walking school bus” leading students to school, distribution of reflectors for coats and backpacks, distribution of “Clifford Takes a Walk” books, a visibility fashion show involving AFD, APD, School Board member Starr Marsett, Tudor Elementary School Principal Nicole Sommerville, and FedEx volunteers as models of safe behaviors, and Providence’s Safety Seal interacting with students and FedEx volunteers demonstrating the importance of driver visibility and pedestrian awareness using FedEx trucks to simulate real street environments.

According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries are the second-leading cause of death among children ages 5 to 14 worldwide. On average 44 children are killed or injured every day and almost 500 children are killed every year in the United States. Safe Kids Alaska and FedEx are working together to raise awareness, promote pedestrian safety and create safer routes for walking and bicycling.

Interviews will be available with a Safe Kids Alaska representative to talk about pedestrian safety and winter visibility tips for children and parents.

• When:  8 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2 (school assembly 9:30 a.m.)
• Where:  Tudor Elementary School, 1666 Cache Dr, Anchorage, AK 99507
• For more information, contact Safe Kids Alaska at 212-3194 or email safekidsak@providence.org

Safe Kids Alaska

Safe Kids Alaska works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children ages 1 to 19. Its local partner agencies include Anchorage Fire Department, Anchorage Police Department, Alaska Injury Prevention Center, Alaska Sales & Service, FedEx and State Farm Insurance. Safe Kids Alaska is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Alaska was founded in 1987 and is led by Providence Alaska Medical Center. 

About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $48 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 325,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. Keep up to date on the latest news from FedEx here. 

About International Walk to School Day
International Walk to School Day is dedicated to walking to school with a purpose — to promote physical activity, safety, health and concern for the environment. International Walk to School Day is promoted nationally by The Partnership for a Walkable America. www.walktoschool.org.