More than a thousand people will rise early Sunday morning to support Child Life/Development Services at the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.
A committee within the Student Welfare Commission organized the 11th annual 5K Bruin Run/Walk in collaboration with Mattel.
The hospital’s pioneer child development program focuses on ensuring that patients maintain their childhood in the hospital, and that families receive valuable support and advice, said Bruin Run/Walk Participants Coordinator Daniel Croymans, a physiological science graduate student.
“I like that the program really focuses on the children themselves. In the hospital environment, (it’s easy) to lose track of the individual child who is undergoing a procedure,” said Bruin Run/Walk Director Carmen Cong, a third-year bioengineering student.
Check-in begins at 6 a.m., and child patients from the hospital will speak about their experiences in the program and coming to terms with their conditions around
7 a.m. in the opening ceremony, Cong said.
Online registration for the event continues until midnight on Saturday, but people can join the cause at the event, which has already raised more than $30,000 through registration fees and donations, Cong said.
The event reached a peak in 2005, raising more than $40,000 with more than 1,800 participants. This year’s goal is 1,500 participants and $35,000, Croymans said.
Actress Dakota Fanning will host the event for a second consecutive year. She is a regular volunteer at the hospital and will present a speech in the opening ceremony, sign autographs and pose for pictures with participants, Cong said.
The celebrity guest list includes actress Josie Loren from “Make It or Break It” and actor Tyler Williams from “Everybody Hates Chris” among others.
“It’s my first run for a charity. I’m a little nervous about it,” said Loren, a fourth-year communications student.
The race begins at 8 a.m., and the event will conclude with live performances, an auction, the Kids Korner, where UCLA athletes will help with arts and crafts; and the Health Fair, where body mass index screenings will be available.
The Silent Auction will consist of more than 60 donated items, said Bruin Run/Walk Events Coordinator Linda Nguyen, a third-year physiological science student.
The event has expanded this year with more than 30 sponsors and three times as many donated items as last year, including a soccer ball signed by David Beckham, two guitars signed by Linkin Park, a jersey signed by Jordan Farmar and spa certificates, Nguyen said.
“I wish there were more of these events. If they did this once a quarter, I think they could pull it off. Anything to make the children’s lives easier is well worth it,” said Brenda Leung, a fourth-year biology student and four-time Run/Walk participant.
Williams has worked for children’s hospitals and will participate in the event along with his family. He said he looks forward to supporting the children at Mattel.
“It reminds me that whatever I’m going through, it could be worse. These kids are fighting not only to survive, but to put a smile on their faces,” Williams said.