This morning over two hundred Windermere schoolchildren and their parents enjoyed a free breakfast and a Giant Walk to School event thanks to local shoe shop Little Brogues.
Children from all four local primary schools; Windermere School, St Cuthberts, Goodly Dale and St Martin’s & St Mary’s C of E Primary School started their day at the Marchesi Centre in the heart of the town and sat down to a breakfast of pancakes, fresh fruit, cereals and even a bacon butty, cuppa and bucksfizz for the adults.
Everyone then set off with their schoolmates from the Library Gardens. Little Brogues put on the event to thank the community for welcoming them onto Birch Street in Windermere two and a half years ago.
Business owner Simon Dernie said “I was overwhelmed with the response to the Giant Walk to School this morning. It was fantastic to see so many local children and their parents enjoying the sun and a healthy walk to school all together. Whilst I recognised many of the people it was lovely to meet so many new friendly faces too, Windermere and Bowness is a special community and this morning was a great example of that.”
Mrs Thomas, Headteacher at Windermere School allowed her pupils special dispensation to start a little later than usual so they could attend the event and even came down to lead the walk back.
Mrs Thomas explained; “We were thrilled to be invited to take part in this wonderful community event. With children spending more and more time in cars, the chance to walk with friends was quite special.
“The benefits of such a thing were obvious, not only from an environmental aspect but also the wellbeing of pupils and parents alike. Seeing the children playing together in the sunshine on the lawn before we set off for school was heartwarming. With a hearty breakfast and a generous ‘goodie bag’, it was a fantastic way to start the day for us all.”
The event marked #HappyShoesday as part of the national initiative Walk to School Week which was created to encourage more families to walk to school.
