Trip to L.A. Fashion District set

Folks dropping pounds through the current weight-loss challenge will soon be needing some new britches.

That's why a January bus trip is being planned to the popular Los Angeles Fashion District.

Yumans involved in the community-wide challenge say people won't just need new clothes. They say folks will also deserve a little celebration after so many weeks of diet and exercise.

"I just thought it might be fun," said Doris Peeples, who came up with the idea of a shopping trip. "This trip will also be a great opportunity to meet other people who have been part of this competition."

The bus trip is planned for Saturday, Jan. 30. Tickets are being sold now.

The Fattest to Fittest: Yuma vs. Yakima Weight Loss Challenge kicked off Oct. 24 with 900-plus people competing in community teams. Yuma and Yakima, Wash., are both battling the bulge with official teams. The challenge ends Dec. 19.

"I've heard about L.A.'s Fashion District for many years. I just never went," Peeples said. "I thought this would be a great chance for people who have lost weight and need some new clothes to make a fun trip."

Peeples belongs to Team FAJH in Fattest to Fittest. Team members are employees at Fourth Avenue Junior High, where Peeples is a school librarian.

The tour is being handled by Tour West America in Yuma.

The L.A. Fashion District, which is described as the hub of the apparel industry on the West Coast, boasts 90 blocks of clothing makers and retailers. For more information visit their website,www.FashionDistrict.org.

"There is an area called Santee Alley, which is a very festival-like atmosphere," said Audrey Spangler with Tour West. "They have all kinds of clothes and all price ranges. Shoppers can expect to find 30-70 percent off retail prices."

For lunch, which is not included, there are 80 restaurants and snack shops in the district.

The cost for the bus trip is $55 per person. The deadline to register is Jan. 22. For more information, call 783-8888.

"Saturday will be a great day to be there because working people can go," Spangler said, "plus a lot of stores only sell to the public on Saturdays."

The bus bound for L.A. will leave Yuma at 4:30 a.m. Jan. 30 and return late that night, possibly around 1 a.m.

"It's just a day trip, but bring your pillow and your binkie and you can sleep on the bus!" Spangler said, chuckling. "It's going to be a long day - but fun."

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Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.