Pirates are not usually known for their charitable efforts, but on Sunday they will be the central theme of the eighth annual UCLA Run/Walk, an event that raises money for the Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA.
Run/Walk, in which participants run five kilometers, nearly three miles, around campus, specifically benefits the hospital’s Child Life/Child Development Program, said Jonathan Pham, Student Welfare Commission consultant for the event.
“It teaches (participants) to understand the importance of a child’s life,” Pham said of the event, which has a pirate theme this year.
The commission, an office within the Undergraduate Students Association Council, founded the event eight years ago after learning that the Child Life/Child Development Program was in danger of being terminated, Pham said.
Since then, the event has continued to grow, and last year it included about 1,500 participants, who raised over $40,000. Pham said this year, organizers are aiming to raise $50,000, and over 200 people have already registered.
Participants can continue registering online or via mail, or in person at the event Sunday morning.
Pham said though many participants in Run/Walk are UCLA students, anyone is welcome.
He added that hospital employees and affiliates often choose to participate because of their proximity to the cause, and the commission also encourages members of the local running community to turn out.
Student Welfare Commissioner Tamaron Jang said the event’s planning committee decided on the pirate theme partly to encourage enthusiasm and participation.
“It’s something everyone can get excited about,” she said. “We try to cater (the event) to children. There’s a lot of children there ““ this is a family event.”
Run/Walk begins in Bruin Plaza, then loops around campus before ending in the same location.
After the run is over, participants can enjoy live performances by bands, refreshments and games, including a dunk tank.
Aya Obara, a third-year biology student who participated in Run/Walk last year and plans to again this year, said the entertainment and community feel make the event more fun.
“The environment can be really peppy,” she said.
“It’s a really cool experience because there’s so many people that do it together.”
Pham said Patrick Warburton, best known for voicing Joe from the television show “Family Guy,” is expected to attend the event as a celebrity judge for some of the games.
Mattel Children’s Hospital representatives will also speak about the importance of the cause, Pham said.
Jang said she believes the event gives students a unique opportunity to give to a cause close to home.
“This is helping something that directly affects the campus,” she said, noting that many students work or volunteer at the hospital. “It’s something you can physically see the results of.”