AAA Strollerthon to Benefit Low-Income Families Who Need Child Safety Seats

Families With and Without Strollers Are Invited to Participate

BURNSVILLE, Minn., June 21 -- AAA clubs of Minnesota announce the first-ever Strollerthon to be held Aug. 7, 2004, at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley for the benefit of the Minnesota Safety Council's car seat programs. Funds raised will be used to purchase age- and size-appropriate child safety seats for low-income families in the Twin Cities area.

"Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children and the majority of children's deaths occur with the child not being properly restrained," said Jeff Ogden, AAA Minnesota/Iowa President.

"Furthermore, lower income families have a lower use rate of child restraint systems in part because they lack access to affordable child safety seats," said Steve Frank, AAA Minneapolis President and CEO.

In the weeks preceding the Strollerthon, participants will solicit pledges in support of the event. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Aug. 7, they will walk, many pushing strollers, along a 5-kilometer (3.2-mile) trail at the Minnesota Zoo in support of child passenger safety. AAA's Strollerthon also will help build awareness of the important differences between child safety seats and booster seats, as well as the appropriate use of those seats.

Prizes for walkers, depending on the amount of money they raise, include t-shirts, gift cards and $100 travel vouchers to be used at any AAA Travel agency.

Following the Strollerthon, Subway Restaurants and the Minnesota Safety Council will host the fourth annual SUBWAY SEZ Safe-a-Rooni at the zoo's south entrance. This event is a safety fair created to educate kids, parents and grandparents about being and staying safe and will feature games and hands-on activities. Safety experts will help kids and families learn about fire, water, bike/scooter, electrical, motor vehicle, and train safety, as well as many other practical daily safety applications.

Information regarding the Strollerthon event including registration and pledge forms can be found at http://www.aaa.com/ .

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, which has 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states. AAA Minneapolis serves more than 170,000 members in Hennepin County.