5K Run/Walk to benefit children

More than one thousand participants will forfeit sleeping in this Sunday morning to be a part of the 10th annual UCLA 5K Run/Walk.

The fundraiser, in which participants run or walk for 8 kilometers, aims to raise $60,000 with more than 2,000 participants to benefit the Child Life/Child Development program at the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.

The program addresses the unique needs of pediatric patients through play therapy and support for families dealing with chronically ill children.

In the spirit of celebrating pediatric health, actress Dakota Fanning will host the event. 16-year-old actress Jennette McCurdy will also be in attendance.

Michelle Barton, an event spokeswoman, said that she hopes Fanning’s presence will create public exposure and attract more people to the event.

Barton, an avid cross country runner, said the event has even greater significance because as a biology student, she knows the need for funding children’s medical programs.

Kacie Sturek, the director of the UCLA 5K Run/Walk added that Fanning and McCurdy’s participation will “make the event exciting and memorable for the kids.”

Regardless of celebrity status, all participants may lose a few hours of beauty sleep on Sunday morning.

Registration for the event begins at 6 a.m., followed by an opening ceremony at 7 a.m.

“It’s early in the morning, but it’s such a high-energy event,” Event Coordinator Lara Davis said.

The course will begin and end in Wilson Plaza, primarily following Charles E. Young Drive along the way, according to Run/Walk’s official Web site.

Throughout the course, major morale points will be established to encourage participants.

Although the general structure of the event is the same as in previous years, Sturek said that this year has been full of behind-the-scenes changes.

“The committee created new chair and coordinator positions, which divided labor and made communication easier,” she said.

She added that the silent auction will be significantly larger than in previous years due to the Child Life/Child Development program’s help in obtaining auction items.

Barton said that the student-run committee has worked diligently to increase involvement by going into the Westwood community, approaching vendors for sponsorships, fliering on Bruin Walk and creating incentives for groups with the most participants.

She added that radio station Jack FM will be at the event playing music, marking the first time a radio station has participated in the fundraiser.

The family-friendly event will also include a Kids Korner with a magician, face painting, arts and crafts, a hula hoop class and a bounce house, said Davis. She added that the Kids Korner will include an art project that will be created with children’s help.

Registration for the UCLA 5K Run/Walk is open until the morning of the event, and costs $20 for a team or $25 for an individual participant.

The committee members encourage still undecided participants to get involved.

“I want people to come out and see how huge an event students can put on and be empowered by that,” said Sturek. “I want them to realize, “˜I can make a change and get involved.'”

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