Photos and story by Jennifer Yuen Daily Bruin
Senior Staff
Banners are painted at Chi Omega to help advertise for the
walk.
Fifty dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, thousands of flyers and 29
banners later, this year’s Children’s Walk for Life
held Sunday morning proved a success.
Amid the free food, games, raffles and bands performing, the
on-campus walk raised at least an estimated $15,000, benefiting the
Mattel’s Children’s Hospital.
UCLA’s Student Welfare Commission organized the event with
a goal of $50,000. But the total amount raised won’t be known
until a couple of weeks from now.
Peter Trinh, a third-year physiological science/business
economics student and program director for the Children’s
Walk, said the walk brought a variety of people together for a
worthy cause.
“As with the first walk, we hope the money raised will go
towards the hospital’s Child Life and Child Development
Program, which aims to enhance children’s experience in the
hospital,” he added.
With a total of almost 300 volunteers dedicating their time
before and during the walk, fourth-year microbiology student and
SWC programming chair Rowena Dejesus feared the event would end up
with more volunteers than walkers.
The 5K walk began in Westwood Plaza and circled around north
campus. The route was marked with encouraging posters and cheering
volunteers reminding them to, as one poster read, “do it for
the kids.”
As one of the largest philanthropic events on campus, initial
planning for the walk began one year ago. Publicity to recruit
sponsors, walkers and volunteers was larger than for the previous
walk, held in 1999.
A wide range of outside businesses and on-campus student groups
sponsored the walk. Donations covered printing costs for flyers and
included jerseys signed by Freddie Mitchell.
Companies and organizations also gave grants to the SWC.
Dr. Edward McCabe, professor and executive chair of the
department of pediatrics and physician-in-chief of the hospital,
said the walk showed the responsiveness of UCLA to community
needs.
“It’s terrific getting students involved in the
hospital and knowing they (and the outside community) are
supportive of the work we do,” he said.
Walkers gather in Westwood Plaza to do the eight-clap before the
5K walk begins. Jennifer Shen, a second-year
molecular cell and developmental biology student, recruits walkers
and volunteers on Bruin Walk. After the walk, Leana Santo
Domingo, 10, and her sister, Louise Santo
Domingo, 4, look at their new toys donated by Mattel.
Walkers approach the halfway point of the North Campus route on
Sunday. As part of the walk’s advertising, Henry
Lam, third-year sociology student and the Student Welfare
Commission’s chief of staff, hangs a banner on Hilgard
Avenue.