Sally Gunnell
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Sally Gunnell is a former Olympic athlete, so knows the value of everyday exercise. She showed her support for Walk to School Month 2008, saying:
"Keeping fit and healthy is so important, especially for children. If we teach young people how to lead active lifestyles, they will carry it into adulthood and hopefully onto their own children. As a parent, I know how busy life can get and how easy it is to pile everyone into the car! That’s why I’m supporting Walk to School Month - it reminds us about something that is so obvious we sometimes forget to do it: walk with your kids! It’s a great way to get regular exercise into your family’s day, you will do your bit for the environment and perhaps you’ll get to know people in your community too.”
Paul Stewart, a prominent children's author regularly walked with his children to school when they were younger and told the Walk to School campaign why he thinks it's important:
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Bob Reitemeier, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said: “Walking to school is a great opportunity for children to develop independence and vital life skills, including road safety. This can help them make the tricky transition to secondary school confidently and safely. Our Good Childhood Inquiry has, however, found that parents are increasingly reluctant to let children out unsupervised before the age of 14. Sometimes by protecting children we can actually put them at further risk; it is vital that children have the opportunity to learn to look after themselves.”
Cllr David Sparks, the Local Government Association spokesman on transport, said: \"Encouraging parents to walk their children to school, where it is possible, makes perfect sense. It means children are more savvy about road safety, it keeps them fit at a time when obesity has reached record levels and it means less traffic congestion within school zones at drop-off and pick-up times. At a time when petrol prices are soaring, it will also save parents money, and many councils are already doing a lot to encourage parents to leave the car at home with 'walking buses'.\"
Malcolm Burns, Chair of LARSOA, said: “LARSOA is pleased to support this initiative because encouraging families to walk to school enables children to develop real life practical skills, while fewer cars on the roads reduces congestion which can make it more difficult for pedestrians around schools.”
Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: \"Walking to school helps children to develop road safety awareness and skills, something which they cannot do in the back of a car. It also brings lots of other health and environmental benefits. We welcome and support Living Streets' campaign to encourage parents to walk their children to school from an early age, and so give their youngsters the best start to becoming active, safe and responsible road users.\"
