Many Iowa children already make a daily hike to and from school, but an event next week encourages more kids to hit the sidewalks statewide. Kelly Morgan is a spokeswoman for Walk To School Day, which is next Wednesday, October third.

Morgan says there are three main reasons behind the day for Iowans. She says it’s a chance to be part of a global event to promote health, identify safer routes for walking to school and to improve air quality. Morgan says the day also helps find safer routes for bicycling, relieving traffic congestion and building better connections between families, schools and communities. She says people can get involved in a couple of different ways.

Schools are encouraged to organize walking events that would involve lots of kids, but if that’s not an option, she just encourages families to take part. For more information, visit " www.walktoschool-usa.org ". This is the 11th annual International Walk to School Day and some four-million people worldwide are expected to participate.