City and school leaders joined the Valley Regional Fire Authority and Kent Police for International Walk to School Day with Washington Elementary students Wednesday morning.

Escorted by police, a throng of students walked down East Main Street to school – symbolic of the Safe Kids Seattle-South King, a nonprofit organization’s effort to promote pedestrian safety and healthy behavior and prevent potential injuries from car-versus-pedestrian-type incidents.

Auburn School District Superintendent Alan Spicciati led the way. Mayor Nancy Backus and City Councilmember Yolanda Trout-Manuel participated. Parents, school staff, firefighters, police officers and representatives from FedEx – a program sponsor – also joined students in the walk.

Students who participated received a “swag bag” with pedestrian safety tips, a LED light to attach to their backpack or clothing, a reflective bracelet, Clifford Takes A Walk (Scholastic) book, and stickers from Safe Kids and the VRFA. Students in the school also received the LED lights to attach to their backpacks and pedestrian safety tips.

Each October , millions of children from countries throughout the world participate in Safe Kids Walk This Way events for International Walk to School Day.

Since 1999, Safe Kids Walk This Way and FedEx have teamed to celebrate International Walk to School Day.

Since the beginning of the program, more than 8.2 million students around the world have joined with nearly 16,000 FedEx volunteers in 10,000 schools for International Walk to School Day – Walk This Way’s largest and most widespread activity.