October 11, 2015, will mark the 25th Anniversary of the annual Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) “Walk in the Park” at the Disneyland Resort. This event will bring people from all over together for a great cause.
Dating back to 1964, CHOC has helped so many families and loved ones with top quality care. Even before the facility opened, Walt Disney and Walter Knott were known for being visionaries for the hospital. With the addition of their help alongside Orange County pediatricians and leaders, CHOC has since then grown to become a well-recognized establishment.
The first CHOC Walk began in 1990. Oddly, the walk did not actually take part in the parks. Instead the walk was held in the Disneyland parking lot. It was not until 2002 that the walk was held inside the theme parks. Both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park were added to the route, ultimately increasing the amount of walkers, teams and fundraising efforts for the hospital.
The CHOC Walk features a three-mile walk through the resort. Along the way, walkers will have the opportunity to see special characters, watch the sun rise over the resort and even be in the parks before normal operating hours. The event which is known for being “the largest and most unique single pediatric walk event in the nation,” has reached up to an estimated 15,000 walkers. By the end of this donation period, the CHOC Walk will have raised over $24 million since 1990.
CHOC and the Disneyland Resort have had a long running history together. Back in 2012, the resort donated $5 million to the hospital. This donation helped with the construction of the newly 426,000-square-foot patient tower, according to the Huffington Post.
In addition, the resort offers entertainment to children and families. Disney characters such as Minnie Mouse and others can be seen visiting hospital floors. Also, the Family Lobby presents two shows a day of Disney California Adventure’s Turtle Talk With Crush.
If you would like to help with the CHOC Walk, there are several ways to do so. Even if you are unable to attend, you can still help. First off, the resort will hold the CHOC Walk Ambassador’s Luau. Guests can partake on October 10 in a “Polynesian” themed event featuring face painting, fun activities, special photo opportunities, a lovely dinner and more, at the Disneyland Hotel. Second, if you cannot attend the actual walk, the “Sleepy Bear” option is available. This option allows for you to donate and raise money, as well as receive prizes as you reach goal levels. Last but not least, you can become a walker or join a team. Each year, DAPs Magic puts together a team. If you would like to visit our team page and make a donation, please click here.
Fundraising efforts will all be placed towards the hospital.
Check out our recap clip from last year’s event. Hope to see you on the course!
