Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 21/05) - Ecole St. Joseph students won themselves some easy cash recently - just for lacing up their shoes and walking to school.

Sixty-eight per cent of the school's Grade 6-8 students walked or biked to school from Oct. 3-7 during Ecology North's Walk To School Challenge.

Physical education teacher Eugene Roach pumped students up for the challenge, with posters and speeches before the event started. He also had the help of a nine-student sports council. The money will go towards sports equipment.

Doug Ritchie of Ecology North says the week-long contest was a success.

"We hope that this trend can continue, if not increase, throughout the rest of the school year," he says.

Thirty-five classes in seven schools across the city took part, with 60 per cent of those students opting to hoof it or bike to and from school.

In the small school category, K'alemi Dene won $750, while Ecole Allain St-Cyr came in second and won $250.

In the large school category, William McDonald school came second and won $500. Weledeh Catholic school also participated. The winnings have to be spent on something that promotes physical fitness.