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LA Unified announced today that its 5K ‘Move It!’ Challenge and Health Festival will take place on Nov. 16 at Dodger Stadium. The District fundraiser is intended to raise awareness about the importance of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle, while also raising funds for the District’s new Wellness Centers.

There are currently a dozen LAUSD Wellness Centers located throughout the district with two scheduled to open in early 2014 (click here for an interactive map of LAUSD’s Wellness Centers). The centers offer a variety of primary healthcare and family support services, and in many neighborhoods, serve as the hub for LAUSD’s School Mental Health services.

According to the district, 27 percent of LA Unified students are uninsured and 44 percent rely on Medi-Cal.

Says one mother of a Hollywood High junior on the LA Trust website: “when [my daughter] needed to get medical clearance to run on the school’s track team, she made a quick, convenient – and free! – trip to the Wellness Center on campus. Not only did my daughter get checked out for track, but the doctor gave her a full physical exam and offered recommendations to help my daughter avoid recurring joint pain she had been experiencing while she was working out.”

The run/walk begins at 9 a.m. followed by a health festival after the race in Dodger Stadium. A 1k race will also be held for younger students or for those who choose to run or walk a shorter course. You can register or donate to the “Move It!” Challenge on the LAUSD’s registration page, here.

*This version clarifies that it is the LA Trust, not the LA Fund, that is working to develop LAUSD Wellness Centers.