Rugby legend Catherine Spencer has called for schools to sign up for green travel in readiness for the KM Year of Walking in 2018.

The former England Women’s Rugby Team Captain, who led the team to three successive Six Nations titles, is an Honorary Patron of the KM Charity Team and key supporter of its work promoting healthy lifestyles.

Catherine is encouraging schools to join Active Wow this month and ensure the walk to school scheme is in place for next academic year when the KM Group will put green travel in the spotlight.

She said: “We’re going to continue to promote and encourage our walk to school programme; we have our annual KM Charity Walk taking place in the last weekend of June; and we’ll also be running our Green School Awards – so now is the time to sign up for walk to school.”

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Catherine on board as Honorary Patron. She is a fantastic role model for the children and we hope she will inspire many to incorporate more activity into their day to day lives.”

Currently 40,000 participating families walk, cycle, scooter, or park and stride to school each week and have generated more than half a million green journeys.

KM Walk to School is supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, London Borough of Bexley, Orbit, Golding Homes, Bel UK, Specsavers, Eurostar, Whitefriars, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Jelf, Countrystyle Recycling, Gallaghers Aggregates and Volker Highways.

Schools are being invited to sign up for green travel for the next academic year at a 20% discount if they apply before July 1. Contact Sarah Clyne on sclyne@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291 or click HERE for details on joining the scheme.

Find out about the KM Charity Team’s literacy scheme for schools at bustersbookclub.co.uk