Derry parents urged to start walking

The Mayor of Derry, Councillor Brenda Stevenson, has urged Derry parents to ditch their cars this October and join a new campaign to get parents and children more active.

Earlier this week, Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy, announced that October is 'Walk to School Month' and Councillor Stevenson is calling on local parents to support the scheme.

She said that the benefits are 'twofold', and that “exercise should be a regular part of our daily routine”. Taking the extra half hour out of their day and walking or cycling to school, would help target Northern Ireland's rising issues with childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes, as well as adopting a healthier diet.

She continued to say that the benefits to the environment would be “significant if there is less congestion on our roads and less pollution as a result. I would encourage all teachers to support this scheme and local parents by highlighting the benefits of walking to school and the wider impact of exercise on our general health.

More information is available from TravelwiseNI.