Walk and bike to work day is May 21

I was a "walker" in elementary school. I didn't have to walk, there was a bus that came abruptly at 7:30 a.m., chugged about five miles in the opposite direction of school, and then dropped me off just in time for the bell.

I didn't have to walk, but I liked it. First, it gave me an extra 15 minutes of sleep before my dad's incessant door knocking and "lights on" wake-up call. It was less than one mile to school and my best friend and her mom would always meet me at the top of the driveway with some tasty snack for my lunch, or some funny story about the cat and the box of Christmas decorations.

Use your imagination.

A crisp morning, sun barely up, light dew on the grass... I still remember that stuff and I still love it.

We walked in the rain - sometimes. And the snow - definitely. It was never a big deal or a tough choice to make. We just did it. Every day.

Of course, not every home is within walking, or biking range to school. But surely, many are.

This Friday, Polson's Linderman and Cherry Valley Elementary Schools are taking part in the League of American Bicyclists' "Bike and Walk to Work Day."

Parent volunteers will meet students at three separate locations in the town's vicinity and bike or walk to school. When they arrive, participants will be treated with a light breakfast and prize drawings. This is a great way for both parents and students to see what biking or walking to school is all about. Hopefully, some will continue to use this mode of transportation as the school year comes to a close.

After all, what better way to combat childhood obesity than to introduce a healthy commute to kids at a young age? Before they are stubborn enough or lazy enough to refuse?

There's been a real push for Americans to lead healthy and active lifestyles in recent years. And there needs to be, considering the latest statistics.

Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009, a report released last July by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

Even more upsetting, however, is that according to the same study, the percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30-percent in 30 states.

I'm not surprised. Sadly, I can't even count the times I've been ignored or flat out rejected when asking my own brothers to "step away from the Xbox" and go outside on a beautiful day.

"Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic is a critical ingredient for delivering a healthier population and making health reform work," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO.

"If we can prevent the current generation of young people from developing the serious and costly chronic conditions related to obesity, we can not only improve health and quality of life, but we can also save billions of dollars and make our health care systems more efficient and sustainable."

So, take a tip from the kids. Bike to work this week. Walk if you can. Give yourself a few extra minutes to enjoy the birds, the budding flowers, the cool morning air. It's really not a big deal. It's not that much of a hassle. Just get out there. Save the gas. Take care of your heart. Have fun.