Best foot forward as Thurso schools lead the way for WOW walk to school campaign
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Thurso primary schoolchildren had the chance to meet up with a very unusual visitor yesterday in the shape of a large orange foot with a healthy agenda on his mind.
Strider is the Living Streets mascot for an initiative to get kids active on the school run and plays a prominent role in a Highland-wide campaign by the charity called WOW.
A selection of primary schoolchildren from Miller Academy, Mount Pleasant and Pennyland met up with Strider and members of the WOW campaign team as well as local councillor Matthew Reiss and Ian Graham from the road safety team at Highland Council.
Jacqui Budge, Miller Academy head teacher, said: “Miller Academy is setting an excellent example to all schools in the Highlands by supporting pupils and families to become more active by taking part in Living Streets Scotland’s walk to school programme. Walking to school is an easy and achievable way for children to fit more exercise into their daily routines.”
Living Streets – the UK charity for everyday walking – along with the council's road safety team brought the WOW challenge to the three schools and pushed for a healthier lifestyle with the Walk to School Challenge. The nationwide project has proven to increase walking rates by 23 per cent and reduce the number of cars at school gates by 30 per cent on average and has run successfully across Scotland's schools for over 14 years.
Councillor Matthew Reiss said: “I am delighted that Thurso schools are leading the way on WOW, the Walk to School Challenge in the Highlands and to hear from the pupils and teachers about both the benefits and barriers to walking to school."
At the Miller Academy event yesterday morning he said it was refreshing to see the children out in the fresh air and not just enjoying themselves but "learning important messages about physical health" as well. "It's good for morale and mental health and also road safety," he added.
Ian Graham said: “Highland Council's Road Safety Team are delighted to be working with Living Streets Scotland to launch the WOW Travel Tracker at Miller Academy, Mount Pleasant Primary and Pennyland Primary School in Thurso.
"The Road Safety Team have been working with the school staff, pupils and parents to develop Travel Plans which encourages travel to school in a sustainable, active and safe way. By working together we aim to make our communities safer, healthier and greener.”
Deputy head teacher at Miller Academy, Carola Unger, explained a little about the role of the school's junior road safety officers who attended yesterday's event. "They teach other children about road safety and encourage them 'to be bright and be seen'," she said. "We felt they would be the ideal candidates for the launch and give feedback to the rest of the school and other children."
The primary kids all seemed delighted at the 30-minute event and will hopefully take on board the healthy lifestyle messages from Strider and the WOW team.
