Law to enhance physical education in Illinois schools - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Law to enhance physical education in Illinois schools

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CHICAGO, IL (KFVS) -

Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law Saturday to enhance physical education in Illinois schools.

Quinn urged Illinois residents to take the "Walk Across Illinois Challenge." It's a program the governor launched to improve the health and fitness of the people of Illinois. Governor Quinn led a group of walkers on a half-mile trek through Oak Park.

"Today we want to encourage people to be fit, be healthy and walk across Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "This new law is another step in the right direction to help the citizens of Illinois improve their health and wellness." 

The law is effective immediately.

Originally launched by Quinn when he was Lieutenant Governor, "Walk Across Illinois" is an interactive program which encourages participants to walk 167 miles in a single year, roughly the distance across Illinois from Rock Island on the Mississippi River to Chicago on Lake Michigan. Ten years ago, Quinn – joined by his 78-year old physician, Dr. Quentin Young - walked that 167-mile-route to promote the Bernardin Amendment which called for decent health care for everyone.

Residents wishing to take the "Walk Across Illinois Challenge" may visit walkacrossillinois.org, where they can register, log their mileage, learn about hiking routes and get helpful tips. A chart enables you to convert other activities to mileage, such as 30 minutes of bowling or 20 minutes of lawn-mowing being equivalent to one mile.

 Once a walker has reached 167 miles, he or she receives a certificate from the governor. Illinois has approximately 270 hiking trails, 63 miles of walkable Lake Michigan shoreline, thousands of miles of riverfront paths and countless neighborhood walks.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

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