ST Brigid’s Catholic School students in Evanston took part in the national Walk Safely to School Day with parents and staff on Friday.

Walk Safely to School Day is an annual event held in Australia during May, where primary school students are encouraged to walk or commute safely to school.

Now in its 20th year, the initiative seeks to promote road safety, health, public transport and the environment.

St Brigid’s principal Paul Bennett said the school has been involved in the event for the past couple of years.

“It is promoting to the children that daily exercise is important,” he said.

“We have a number of students who also ride their bikes, or scooters, to school, which is good.

“It is a good reminder for little people to know how to cross roads safely, as well as train tracks, and be careful of cars backing out of driveways around our area.”

Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby said physical inactivity is a major risk factor for so many chronic diseases that can affect kids at different stages of their life, including mental illness, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. For that reason, he said, “it’s time to get walking”.

“One in four children in Australia is overweight or obese, and it is expected that numbers will reach one in three by next year,” he said.

“We really need teachers, parents, carers and the community at large to get behind this event and its objectives; the best exercise for all of us is regular walking.

“Children require at least 60 minutes huff and puff physical activity every day.

“We should encourage them to include walking at the beginning, during and end of each day.”