WHAT:             Wilmot J. Fraser Elementary School, partnering with MUSC Junior Doctors of Health and Safe Kids Trident Area, will be joining schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 8, 2007.   

WHO:             Wilmot J. Fraser Elementary School

                                    MUSC Junior Doctors of Health   

                                    Safe Kids Trident Area

WHERE:             The walk will begin at the Piggly Wiggly located at 445 Meeting Street in downtown Charleston. Students, parents, teachers, and volunteers will meet in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot and will walk to the school as a group.

WHEN:                        Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Gather at 7AM. Walk will start promptly at 7:30AM.

SIGNIFICANCE:            Students from Wilmot J. Fraser will be walking to school Wednesday, Oct 8 along with parents, teachers, and members of the community. Community leaders include Dr. Nancy McGinley (Superintendent of Schools), Mrs. Terry Nichols (District 20 Assoc. Superintendent), Dr. Brenda Nelson (Director of Community Outreach), and Police Chief Greg Mullen.

In the U.S., International Walk to School Day is expected to include 5,000 schools from all 50 states. Walkers from the U.S. will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world.

Walk to School events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.

The event is being organized by MUSC Junior Doctors of Health (JDOH).

Begun in 2004 between MUSC and Wilmot J. Fraser Elementary School as a collaborative initiative, JDH addresses the needs of an underserved population by providing resources and leadership to promote health and disease prevention and fostering research links between the academic institutions. Through interprofessional interaction, MUSC students representing a variety of health care professions from all six colleges, teach elementary-age students about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, stressing a healthy lifestyle. The program also targets teachers, parents, and the surrounding community, providing a comprehensive and unique approach to alter the health outcome and future of these students.

The goal of the program is to maintain relationships with Fraser students through the 12^th grade, encouraging them to focus on academics, make healthy decisions, and pursue careers in health care. Fraser Elementary JDOH graduates will be recruited in high school to teach the program to elementary students, giving the graduates further confidence, leadership skills, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of themselves and others. International Walk to School in the USA                   www.walktoschool.org            

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