CHOC Walk in the Park Presented by Disneyland

In the past, I have written about my experience interning in a children’s hospital, and how the CHOC Walk in the Park supports the important work that these facilities do year in and year out. I was equally touched to learn that Walt Disney himself was on the hospital’s first Board of Directors!

CHOC Walk in the Park Presented by Disneyland

On Sunday, October 30, 2016, the Disneyland Resort once again opens its arms to support these children most in need. Since its inception in 1990, the CHOC Walk has raised over $26 million for CHOC Children’s and has become the single largest pediatric walk in the United States.

This year’s participants will have some added Pixie Dust; participants will be able to stroll the 3.1 miles through Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney District in their Halloween costumes!!

If not for my commitment to a conference in Walt Disney World Resort that same weekend, I would be putting my tutu on and joining the fun. How about you? Won’t you walk for these children??

OCTOBER BECOMES “CHOCTOBER” FOR

CHOC WALK IN THE PARK, PRESENTED BY DISNEYLAND RESORT, ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016

2016 CHOC “Walk in the Park” Events and Activities

Occurring Throughout Month of October

Choctober

ORANGE, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2016) – The arrival of autumn means its time again for the annual, and always uplifting and inspirational, CHOC Walk in the Park, presented by Disneyland Resort. CHOC Walk is CHOC Children’s Hospital’s annual 5K walk throughout the Disneyland Resort. As the largest and most unique single fundraising pediatric walk event in the nation, last year’s walk raised more than $2.5 million dollars for the hospital’s KidsCare Fund bringing the quarter-century total to over $26 million. Now in its 26th year, the 2016 walk will be extra “spooktacular” as it occurs on Halloween and will be packed with fun for the whole family!

CHOC Walk Ambassadors’ Luau on Saturday, October 29

To add to the excitement of this year’s walk, a festive and exotic Polynesian-themed event has been added to create a weekend of CHOC Walk fun. The CHOC Walk Ambassadors’ Luau will feature exciting traditional dances, hula lessons and cuisine inspired by the Pacific Islands starting at 2:30 p.m. on the Adventure Lawn of the Disneyland Hotel.

CHOC Walk in the Park on Sunday, October 30

Beginning at 6:15 a.m. on October 30, fundraising CHOC Walk participants will walk approximately three miles through Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park to celebrate the life-saving, compassionate care CHOC provides Southern California’s children while taking in the magic of the Disneyland Resort. The event culminates in the resort’s Downtown Disney® District where sponsors, hospital support groups, shops and restaurants have special offers for participants at the CHOC Festival.

Disneyland

Among the event’s estimated 14,000 walkers are participants from across the U.S. and around the world, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and Japan. All monies raised provide funding to the programs and services in the greatest need both at the hospital and in the community—from mental health services to an expanded neonatal intensive care unit to care for children and families who cannot afford to pay. Every dollar counts for Southern California’s kids!

“Love, gratitude and remembrance will again fill Main Street as Walk participants celebrate the lives of children,” said Kimberly Chavalas Cripe, president and CEO, CHOC Children’s. “Nearly 1,000 teams are expected, and include current and former patients and families, as well as doctors, nurses and other medical professionals with none of this possible without the support of our steadfast friends at the Disneyland Resort.”

CHOC Children’s- Children’s Hospital of Orange County

U.S. News & World Report has named CHOC Children’s one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals in the 2016-17 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. CHOC is also consistently named to the Leapfrog Group’s annual list of Top Children’s Hospitals, distinguishing CHOC’s commitment to providing the safest, highest quality health care. CHOC is one of only 12 children’s hospitals in the nation and only two in the state to earn the respected award.

“Dating back to when Walt Disney himself provided initial support for the creation of the hospital, the Disneyland Resort continues to be a proud supporter of CHOC Children’s,” said Michael Colglazier, president of the Disneyland Resort. “We’re proud to once again present and host their largest fundraising event, CHOC Walk in the Park, and we look forward to another spectacular fundraising event.”

CHOC Children’s began as a regional hospital in 1964. Today, it has grown to be a regional healthcare leader that treats patients from throughout the United States and around the world. CHOC Children’s is now made up of two hospitals, as well as 30 specialty clinics, access to more than 180 specialists and four renowned centers of excellence – the CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.

Event and registration information can be found at www.chocwalk.org, and real-time event information can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This year’s social media hashtag is #chocwalk.

CHOC Walk in the Park Presented by Disneyland