The Alumni Team and Prefect Council co-hosted the 5K Wolverrun at Ted Slavin Field on Feb. 2 in support of the Los Angeles firefighters who battled the Eaton, Palisades and other recent wildfires. All proceeds from the event benefited the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Wildfire Emergency Fund, which helps supply firefighters on the front lines with essential tools and safety equipment.
Wolverrun participants, including faculty, alumni and students, ran six laps around the track and parking lot behind Rugby until they ran a total of five kilometers. Tot Trot race was also held for participants aged 10 and younger. The Community Council sold snacks with all profits donated to the LAFD.
Head Prefect Ellie Borris ’25 said the Alumni Team had initially considered canceling the Wolverrun, but decided instead to modify the event by getting Prefect Council involved so that both students and adults were supporting the LAFD.
“This year, with the fires, [the Alumni Team] were thinking about canceling it, and then they decided to add the [prefect council] to participate and donate the funds to the fire department,” Borris said.
Associate Director of Alumni Relations Ivy Bunnak said proceeds from this year’s Wolverrun were dedicated to fire relief instead of the alumni organization’s initiatives.
“We decided not to have “swag” this year for people who finish the run,” Bunnak said. “All of the things that we normally would spend money on, we decided to put that money and donate to LAFD.”
Track and Field Coach Jonas Koolsbergen ’83 said the Wolverrun gathering held particular significance this year due to the fires’ widespread impact across the school community.
“With so many members of the community, so many families of the community having been affected the way that they have, it just reaches everyone more because everyone knows someone who’s had a real challenge,” Koolsbergen said.
LAFD Battalion Chief Aaron Guggenheim ’99 said the Wolverrun demonstrated the power of collective action in bringing the community together for a common cause.
“A lot of times people want to do something, they just don’t know how, so it’s great that someone can organize something where those that want to partake and give can all be together in the same place,” Guggenheim said.
Koolsbergen said this year’s Wolverrun took on deeper meaning amid recent losses.
“[The run] feels extra special because the moments of loss have made the need for community feel all the more special,” Koolsbergen said.
Bunnak said the school plans to expand Wolverrun’s to a wider community event in upcoming years.
“I think in the few years, we’ll be running to River Park, and we’re probably going include our community and do a run on the streets, like close off Studio City to run,” Bunnak said.
