Up next in 10
It’s time to lace up those sneakers for a cause that touches every heart! This video captures the official kickoff event for the 2026 CHOC Walk in the Park. Join us as we celebrate a landmark 34-year partnership with the Disneyland Resort, announce our new ambassador team, and look forward to our goal of making a life-changing impact for children across Southern California.
This year marks a historic milestone as CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Orange County) and Rady Children’s Health have joined forces to become the largest pediatric health system in California!
Video Highlights & Key Moments:
Meet the Ambassadors: We hear from Belle Leach (2025 Ambassador) on her "dream come true" year and welcome Aurelia Felix, the 2026-2027 Disneyland Resort Ambassador.
34 Years of Magic: A celebration of the relationship between CHOC and Disneyland, which has raised over $49 million since its inception.
The Heart of the Walk: We are honored to introduce the 2026 Ambassador Family: The Carters. They share the powerful story of Carter Strong and how "Little Victories" lead to big waves of change in the fight against pediatric cancer.
New Artwork Revealed: Meet this year's featured artist, Hayden Evans (known for his work at WonderGround Gallery), whose whimsical style will grace the 2026 medals and merchandise.
Important Dates & How to Participate:
Chalk Walk in the Park: Sunday, August 2, 2026.
Join Team Daps Magic at: https://www.chocwalk.org/dapsmagic
Chick-fil-A Sweet Treats Day: Friday, June 12, 2026 (Participating Orange County locations).
Fundraising Incentive: Raise a minimum of $400 to receive a Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket valid for the day of the walk!
Magic Key Holders: Join a Magic Key team and raise the minimum by event check-in to receive the exclusive CHOC Walk Rally Tally!
Connect with the Community
The conversation doesn't end here! If you love Disney Parks, community service, and the latest geek culture news, join our community:
Geeks Corner Weekly Show: Join us every Tuesday at 8:30 PM PT for our live web show. Be part of the conversation at https://GeeksCorner.live
Explore More: For daily articles, event guides, and the latest news on the Disneyland Resort and beyond, visit https://DapsMagic.com
Daps Magic HQ (Patreon): Support the magic and get exclusive access to our community hub at https://DapSHQ.com
Subscribe to stay updated on all things CHOC Walk and Disneyland! Let's make 2026 the best year yet for the kids!
#CHOCWalk #DisneylandResort #CHOC #RadyChildrens #CarterStrong #Disneyland70 #DisneyAmbassador #DisneyCommunity #DapsMagic #GeeksCorner #LittleVictories
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0:05
Hi everybody.
0:07
>> Hi Sam.
0:09
>> Hello.
0:10
>> That that is the spell. They have food
0:13
coma already.
0:14
>> Yeah, that's
0:15
>> You don't have You don't have food coma
0:17
after Mexican food.
0:19
>> Was it good?
0:20
>> Was it good?
0:24
>> You definitely have food coma.
0:26
>> Oh, 100%.
0:27
>> Hello everybody.
0:30
Happy to be here. It's Chuck Walk
0:32
season.
0:35
>> We should probably tell them who we are.
0:36
>> Probably.
0:37
>> Go ahead.
0:38
>> My name is Belch. I was so fortunate to
0:41
be the last year's 2025 CHALK.
0:43
>> LET'S HEAR IT UP HERE.
0:47
>> And this will be my fifth walk, which is
0:49
crazy. So, I'm so excited.
0:52
>> And this is
0:55
>> Tim.
0:58
I handle the PR for Chalkwalk and I've
1:01
been doing this for
1:02
>> a long time.
1:03
>> A not that long.
1:06
>> Yes, I've been doing this for a long
1:08
time. I think I think next year will be
1:11
15 years doing this. So that's that's a
1:14
beautiful thing. And um yeah, that's
1:18
pretty cool.
1:18
>> Such an icon.
1:20
>> That's an such an icon.
1:24
>> I'm an icon now.
1:27
I'm an icon. Uh yeah. No, that's that's
1:30
pretty neat. So we are here for one goal
1:33
and what is that goal?
1:35
>> Chalk. And when is chalk walk this year?
1:40
>> Bella,
1:41
>> you're cheating. That's not fair. August
1:44
2nd. That is right. Now this year I'm
1:48
getting I'm getting very confused which
1:50
is easily done with me as you all know.
1:53
So, we have a new name for Chalk
1:55
Children's Hospital of Orange County,
1:58
which is now Ray Children's Health,
2:02
right? But we still call it Chalkwalk.
2:05
We're all happy about that, right?
2:10
But the cool thing is that with the
2:12
combination of Chalk Children's
2:14
Hospital, Orange County, and Ray
2:17
Children's Health, that has now become
2:20
the largest pediatric pediatric health
2:23
system in California.
2:28
>> So, I think that I think that's pretty
2:30
cool.
2:30
>> That's amazing.
2:31
>> Yeah, that is pretty amazing. The 2025
2:33
Chalkwalk in the Park welcomed over
2:35
6,500
2:37
participants on over
2:39
>> and how many of you were among those
2:42
6,000
2:42
>> I recognize you guys
2:44
>> the real ones.
2:45
>> Yeah.
2:46
>> On over 350 teams. And you guys raised
2:50
over $3 million.
2:55
>> Hold on. And how much are we going to
2:57
raise this year?
2:59
>> A lot. 5 million.
3:01
4 million.
3:02
>> Yeah,
3:03
>> I like the way they think. Yes,
3:05
>> you guys are good. So, because of all
3:08
that, let's take a look back at last
3:09
year's walk to relive some of the magic.
3:12
Roll the clip.
3:19
>> We're going to pan this whole thing.
3:26
>> Okay, fill in the sound everybody. Come
3:28
on.
3:30
Come on.
3:39
>> And we'll pause for a commercial break.
3:40
We'll be right back.
3:44
>> That was great.
3:47
>> And Jill, everybody, Jill said that was
3:49
great.
3:52
>> Encore.
3:53
>> Janelle, there's Janelle.
3:56
>> Here we go.
4:03
Oh, there's bells.
4:06
>> Well, good morning everyone and welcome
4:08
to a short walk in the park.
4:11
>> Hey guys,
4:13
>> this is such a very special event for
4:16
all of us here at the Disneyland Resort
4:18
and I can't tell you how much we
4:20
appreciate all of you.
4:22
>> I want to give a huge shout out to all
4:24
of the Chalk Defenders of Childhood. Our
4:27
team is here today. Your amazing
4:29
dedication, the way you show up each and
4:32
every day and care for and heal children
4:34
is just remarkable. Have a great walk
4:37
everyone. Thank you.
4:38
>> Have a great walk.
4:52
>> Everyone here today is walking as a part
4:55
of someone's story. And all these
4:57
stories are connected by one powerful
5:00
thread, hope. Every step today is in
5:03
honor of those stories. So let's walk
5:06
together. Let's walk for hope. And let's
5:09
walk for
5:35
looking for me.
5:46
>> I was wearing a towel.
5:48
>> Oh, thank you. If you see a pop, it
5:50
might be me.
5:55
one ever.
5:56
>> Oh, yeah.
6:03
>> That was a good video. That was a good
6:05
>> Well, uh, as you saw, we had fun, didn't
6:08
we?
6:10
>> However, you know, we did this together,
6:12
but we don't do it alone.
6:14
>> So, who do we have to give a big shout
6:17
out to? Our friends at the Disneyland
6:20
Resort, right?
6:25
Now, you know, that is that is a 30-year
6:28
relationship with the Disneyland Resort.
6:30
And over those 30 years, together with
6:33
Disneyland, Chop and Disneyland have
6:35
helped raise $49 million
6:41
through Time. That's That's pretty
6:43
pretty cool. And of course, this year,
6:45
we're going to continue to help
6:46
celebrate Disneyland's 70th anniversary,
6:49
which is still ongoing. And I think just
6:52
a few of you have helped celebrate that
6:55
70th anniversary. Especially this table
6:59
and that table and that table and that
7:02
table and that table and that table.
7:04
Right. Just a few.
7:06
>> Yeah, just a few. I thought so. And uh
7:09
Belle, now wait a minute. Um I I want to
7:11
do a little something something here. My
7:13
friend Mar say
7:16
>> now we have a few of the influencers
7:17
here, right? Mhm.
7:19
>> And I would like to see nothing more
7:22
than a few of our influencers turn green
7:25
with envy.
7:26
>> Oo, you guys do a lot, too.
7:28
>> Yeah. I I think they look good in green.
7:32
See, and you got to do some pretty cool
7:35
things as the ambassador.
7:37
>> I did.
7:38
>> So, tell us about a few of those things.
7:40
>> Well, I got to do a few incredible
7:43
things as my ambassadorship. If you know
7:45
me personally, and now you all know me,
7:47
I am the biggest Disney fan besides
7:49
Chalk. Disneyland is my second home. And
7:52
so when I was asked to be the
7:54
ambassador, I just got to these
7:55
incredible things. Starting with
7:56
Chalkwalk, the morning of Chalkwalk,
7:59
bright and early, 4 in the morning,
8:00
being one of the first people to step
8:03
onto the Disneyland Park on Main Street
8:05
with no one there was such an incredible
8:07
experience, a once in a-lifetime goal.
8:10
And I was definitely emotional because
8:12
it was such a childhood dream being one
8:13
of the first people to walk in the early
8:15
morning and then being able to speak on
8:17
Main Street where Walt Disney has stood
8:19
and where all these incredible people.
8:21
It was just such a life-changing moment
8:23
for me. And another really cool thing
8:25
was 15 minutes before I was supposed to
8:27
go on, my incredible friends at Chalk
8:30
and Disney put me together with a little
8:32
meet and greet with my favorite Disney
8:34
character, Stitch. Who loves Stitch?
8:37
>> Stitch is a good one. So I'm obsessed. I
8:39
got a personal meet and greet with
8:40
Stitch and I was so emotional. It was
8:43
such a personal moment and it made me
8:45
feel so loved and seen by everyone at
8:47
Chalkaw in Disneyland. And another
8:49
really cool moment was I got to meet the
8:51
president of Disneyland who is now the
8:53
president of all parks, Thomas. I got to
8:56
meet him. He was so kind and such an
8:58
intelligent man. And I got to really
8:59
build that connection and it was just
9:01
such a cool moment for me. So I'm just
9:03
so grateful for Chalk and for Disneyland
9:05
for making my dreams come true this past
9:07
year.
9:11
This is where I insert the dad joke. Say
9:13
you were institious. Hey.
9:17
>> And if you look closely, there is a
9:19
little touch of green. There is a little
9:22
touch of green. Yeah.
9:23
>> Well, um, speaking of Disneyland, we we
9:26
have a special guest.
9:27
>> We do.
9:28
>> Take it away.
9:29
>> So, welcome a very special guest, the
9:32
2026 to 2027 Disneyland Resort
9:35
Ambassador, AURELIA FELIX.
9:39
GIVE IT UP. COME ON.
9:46
>> I will take both. You can really HEAR
9:48
ME. HELLO EVERYONE. I am so excited to
9:51
be here with you all. Yes. So, I am
9:55
delighted to be with you here tonight on
9:58
behalf of our friends and all 36,000
10:01
cast members at the Disneyland Resort.
10:04
As I mentioned, I am one half of the
10:07
2026 2027 Disneyland Resort Ambassador
10:10
team. My counterpart Michelle Mary could
10:13
not be here tonight, but she says her
10:15
hellos and just wishes that this would
10:17
be a great night. Both her and I are so
10:22
excited to participate in the chalk walk
10:24
in the park. I've been with the
10:27
Disneyland Resort since 2017. I started
10:30
over at the cutest little town in Carver
10:33
County in Cars Land. So, I'm Yeah, Cars
10:36
Land fans. So, I'm very familiar with
10:40
the Chalk Walk. But so excited for this
10:43
to be my first year participating as a
10:45
Disneyland ambassador. Really such a
10:48
huge honor. And as I mentioned before,
10:52
this connection goes so far as far back
10:55
as Walt Disney himself, who helped
10:58
establish Chalk as one of the region's
11:01
first children's hospital. And today,
11:04
after many decades, we continue to
11:07
celebrate through our wonderful
11:10
partnership between Disneyland Resort
11:12
and now Rayy's Children Health of Orange
11:15
County. The design resort has
11:18
collaborated with Shockwalk for 34
11:21
years. Incredible.
11:26
>> And as Tim mentioned, we have
11:28
contributed and raised over $49 million
11:33
for our community's children and family.
11:36
Let's give it up one more time for that
11:38
number.
11:40
And more to come for this year. I'm
11:42
hoping more to come for this year. And
11:43
all of us at the resort are so proud to
11:47
continue Walt Disney's legacy of being
11:49
an active, supportive, and truly caring
11:53
neighbor. You know, as the sun rises on
11:57
August 2nd, on that Sunday, we will all
12:00
gather to walk for a great cause and
12:04
begin the course that will wind through
12:07
Disneyland Park and Disney California
12:09
Adventure, encountering fun, delightful,
12:13
and of course, whimsical surprises like
12:16
like we said before the park opens to
12:18
the public. Again, thank you all so much
12:22
for being with us here tonight. Like our
12:25
friends at the Chalkaw Foundation, we
12:27
appreciate all that you do to help
12:29
spread this fantastic annual event at
12:33
Disneyland Resort. We will see you at
12:36
the 2026 Chalkwalk in the Park in
12:38
August. It's coming up real soon, so
12:41
let's make sure it's the best one yet.
12:44
Thank you everyone for being out here.
12:46
Thank you for having me.
12:54
Let's give him a big round of applause.
12:59
>> Now, uh, another crew that we love and
13:02
adore,
13:03
>> unfortunately, uh, no one could be here
13:06
with us tonight because, uh, they're out
13:08
soaking up the sun, and that would be
13:10
our friends from KTLA.
13:13
>> Now, who wakes up every morning with our
13:16
friends at KTLA? Come on, show a hand.
13:20
>> Yeah, my brother. Yeah.
13:25
>> Okay.
13:27
>> Uh, most of us get up with KTLA.
13:29
>> And for the last, I don't know, I think
13:32
it's almost 10 years, we've had an
13:34
honorary celebrity ambassador. Oh, yeah.
13:36
>> And Henry D Carlo.
13:38
>> And uh I know uh a lot of people get
13:41
Henry and I confused.
13:44
>> Yeah.
13:44
>> You weren't supposed to laugh at that.
13:47
Uh, and uh, Henry's been a great great
13:50
partner as as everybody at KTLA has
13:53
been. And uh, last year you got to do
13:55
something fun. We we did something new
13:57
last year which we we've never done
13:59
before.
14:00
>> I know. Isn't that great?
14:01
>> Yeah. And and because Belle is very
14:03
active on on social media
14:06
>> and she got to fraternize with our
14:09
influencers. Um, you got to shoot some
14:12
social media posts with Henry.
14:14
>> I did.
14:15
>> Tell us about that. That was such a cool
14:17
experience. We got to go up to KTLA and
14:20
I want to be a film director in the
14:21
future. So, just being in that room
14:23
seeing how a commercial was made was
14:25
absolutely incredible. Uh, we had a
14:27
couple blooper reels, but we got to film
14:29
this fun video.
14:30
>> We had a lot of blooper.
14:31
>> A lot, sorry, a lot of blooper reels.
14:33
Um, this fun video with a green screen.
14:36
It was just such a cool experience
14:37
promoting Chalkwalk and it was such a
14:39
special moment personally to me being
14:41
able to tell everyone about Chalkwalk in
14:43
a special place to me. So, it was very
14:45
cool.
14:45
>> Yeah. The green screen gave us a little
14:47
uh little trouble last year as I recall.
14:49
>> Yeah.
14:50
>> Yeah. But uh heavy was was great with
14:54
with pedal
14:55
>> and it was very patient and uh that was
14:58
a that was a fun time.
14:59
>> It was such a fun time and I got to be
15:01
interviewed on KTLA with Henry. So that
15:03
was a very cool experience. I was a
15:05
little scared a little bit of pressure
15:07
with the live TV. Um but it was such a
15:09
cool experience and being able to tell
15:11
the world about chalk really meant a lot
15:14
to me. and sitting in the same spot as
15:16
celebrities. That was pretty cool. So,
15:18
it's a very surreal moment.
15:19
>> Yeah, KTLA has been just a terrific
15:21
terrific artist. So,
15:23
>> so big shout out to KTLA, everybody. So,
15:27
>> and then uh this year we have a brand
15:30
new artist working with us. Um if you're
15:33
familiar with um um what's the uh what's
15:38
the uh GI at Downtown Disney?
15:42
>> Wonder.
15:43
>> Yes. Thank you.
15:44
>> Uh he's one of the artists at
15:45
Wonderground. Um his name is Hayden
15:48
Evans. So
15:50
>> little shout out. There we are. Thank
15:51
you. Was that a squeak or what was that?
15:54
>> A squeal.
15:55
>> So Hayden Evans has joined us and uh
15:57
he'll be providing a lot of the artwork
15:59
for us. And I think you can see some
16:01
right up here. Right. A little bit. And
16:03
uh you will be doing our metal and
16:06
things like that. And Hayden's terrific.
16:08
He was an art director at Disneyland and
16:11
uh he's been around a long time and he's
16:13
a great guy. He wanted to be with us
16:14
tonight but unfortunately his schedule
16:16
didn't allow it. But Hayden has has a
16:18
great great uh art styling. A little bit
16:21
like uh I would say a little bit like
16:23
Mary Blair, a little bit very whimsical
16:25
and I think you're going to love his his
16:27
artwork. So, uh, Hayden has joined us
16:30
and also I know I've been picking on
16:32
them all night so this evening and I'll
16:36
continue to do it because it's fun. But,
16:38
uh, I got to give a shout out to OUR
16:41
INFLUENCER FRIENDS because they are they
16:44
are the backbone of our uh, media push.
16:48
Oh, look, our media friends. They're in
16:50
front of us. They're behind us. How did
16:52
that happen? I'm so confused. Look at
16:54
that. So, a big shout out to our
16:57
influencers because they do they do the
16:59
heavy lifting for us.
17:02
>> Wow. I didn't realize they were so big.
17:07
>> Uh they do the heavy lifting for us and
17:10
we can't thank you guys enough. So,
17:11
let's hear for our influ
17:18
>> and uh and Mel, you you've had some
17:20
experiences with our in now last year. I
17:23
have to I have to tell you something
17:24
funny. So last year we had our kickoff
17:27
event at the Anaheim Hotel.
17:29
>> Oh, that was so fun.
17:30
>> Yeah.
17:31
>> And um and I told our influencers that
17:35
you wanted to kind of get into social
17:38
media.
17:39
>> Yeah.
17:40
>> And of course we had Choco Bear there
17:42
and we had Jeffito there as well.
17:45
>> And uh what was funny was is that all of
17:48
a sudden a line formed for you. There
17:51
was this huge line for Belle. Do you
17:53
guys remember that? And most of you were
17:55
in it. And it's like I was going to
17:57
start selling lightning lanes for you.
18:00
Like the huge line. Poor Choco Bear was
18:02
lonely over the huge line for help. Tell
18:06
us about that a little bit.
18:08
>> Well, I love you all so much. So, thank
18:10
you so much for just being so supportive
18:12
of my journey and for me as the chalk
18:14
ambassador, but like Tim said, I want to
18:17
be in social media. I love doing Tik
18:19
Tok, Instagram, and my diagnosis really
18:21
gave me an outlet for sharing my story.
18:23
And then when I was asked to be the
18:25
ambassador, just to be able to tell
18:26
everyone about Chalkwalk was such an
18:28
incredible time for me. But meeting a
18:31
lot of you, I followed a lot of you.
18:32
That sounds scary, but before the
18:34
Chalkwalk, um that connection of like
18:37
that you all love Disney as much as me.
18:39
So being able to meet you guys, I've
18:41
fangled a little bit. Um but that was
18:43
such a cool moment and I'm just so
18:44
grateful. So thank you for all you do
18:46
for Chalk. It's It's really incredible.
18:49
>> I have to add look back on this photo
18:52
here. You know, I look back on this
18:54
photo and uh there's Robbie and
18:56
everybody. We uh we had a little
18:58
contingent of the influencers that we
19:01
call the OGs
19:04
>> and you know who you are
19:07
>> and raise your hand if you're one of the
19:09
OGs.
19:10
Come on, raise your hand. Higher.
19:14
These folks, these folks have been with
19:15
us from almost the very beginning. So,
19:18
let's hear from the OG's every
19:23
man.
19:24
>> So, now uh Bill's going to introduce
19:27
someone very special for this year.
19:29
>> Yes. So, we've talked about a lot of fun
19:31
things tonight, but there is also a
19:33
serious psych walk. In September 2024, I
19:37
got to ring the bell on the fifth floor
19:38
of Chalk, and it was such a surreal
19:40
moment for me.
19:43
Um, it's just a milestone moment that
19:45
each cancer patient strives for. As the
19:47
tone rings out, it signifies someone has
19:49
completed their cancer treatment. It's
19:51
such a powerful moment. However, not
19:54
every journey has the Disney ending we
19:56
all wish for. But they all possess the
19:58
courage, the hope, inspiration, the
20:00
faith, and wisdom we all strive for.
20:03
Let's take a look at a very special
20:04
story.
20:08
After
20:15
he passed, we would start to see monarch
20:18
butterflies lots of different places on
20:20
the way to school or on the way um at
20:24
the beach. I've never seen a butterfly
20:25
at the beach and we walk to the beach
20:27
and all of a sudden a butterfly crosses
20:28
our path. when he was here with us, um
20:31
whether it be at school, baseball, um
20:35
even when he was coming to Chalk, I
20:37
mean, every nothing ever really got him
20:39
down. Um he was just very positive about
20:42
everything, always willing to, you know,
20:44
give somebody a hug or anything like
20:46
that.
20:47
>> He was diagnosed with acute
20:48
lymphoplastic leukemia. I remember Tim
20:52
was reacting right away and crying cuz
20:56
it was something that confirmed the
20:57
worst fear. And for me, I was just in
21:00
shock because you never imagined to hear
21:04
those words about your baby. So, um,
21:11
within 24 hours, we had a diagnosis. We
21:15
had his first dose of chemo. He had had
21:18
surgery. Um, he had had a port
21:20
placement. and he um and now we had a
21:24
road map um about that what our lives
21:28
were going to look like for the next um
21:30
3 and 1/2 years. This is so
21:32
life-changing. And they said,
21:36
"This is going to be a lot harder on you
21:38
than it is on him." Like kids find ways
21:40
to be kids. That's why we do what we do.
21:43
That's why we work here. Um but that's
21:47
why Chalk said we're here for all of
21:49
you, for the whole family. America,
21:56
what's going on?
21:59
>> What the?
22:00
>> And now what are you doing?
22:02
>> Fight them.
22:14
>> Carter was diagnosed in uh on October
22:17
2nd, 2015. So we created team Carter
22:21
strong and um we were able to walk a
22:25
year after he had um been diagnosed. So
22:28
it was a big celebration. We had really
22:31
big team almost 100 people. We had so
22:34
many friends joining us. Um it was a
22:37
real big celebration and and so much
22:39
fun.
22:42
>> We found out that he relapsed on July
22:44
5th, 2017. Chalk was there every step of
22:48
the way um to help support us again.
22:50
>> Um when he passed away, he was actually
22:52
in remission. So the the treatment did
22:55
its job. Unfortunately, it just takes
22:57
down your immunity. I mean, it strips
22:59
you down so low to kill the cancer that
23:01
it allowed um other foreign things into
23:05
the body, which which eventually was
23:07
what ultimately it caused his cousin to
23:11
pass away.
23:16
getting that news, I immediately wished
23:18
Carter could be here. Um that he
23:22
deserves it and um he would have loved
23:24
to be the ambassador, but I know we are
23:28
so honored and grateful to have this
23:31
opportunity to share his story.
23:33
>> I hope he's he knows he left the legacy
23:36
for it. Um, yeah, we're just so happy to
23:39
uh be able to support and promote uh the
23:43
place that means a lot to us.
23:45
>> Fundraising is a big passion for us. We
23:48
have just pretty much fundraised year
23:51
round. Um it's selfishly it's our way of
23:54
keeping Carter's name present and we
23:58
love to be able to um come together and
24:00
support these causes that are so
24:02
connected to Carter. One of the
24:04
fundraisers we do for chalk every year
24:07
is um a lemonade stand and I believe all
24:12
of the money goes to towards chalk.
24:14
>> This is a forever hole in our family to
24:18
be able to advocate for those families
24:20
and for those that are not um no longer
24:22
with us. I would love to make sure that
24:25
no family has to endure a pain like we
24:28
do every day. Um so that's what
24:30
continues to drive us. So, my hope for
24:32
the future is a cancer-free future. Now,
24:35
they're partnering with um Ray
24:37
Children's and I'm excited for the
24:39
future um that more CHOK families will
24:42
have um access to cutting edge research
24:45
and treatment options. Those options for
24:48
families that maybe weren't available
24:50
for Carter, but that the funds that we
24:52
raise are help propelling a future um
24:55
for that dream to be achieved.
25:11
So everyone on behalf of Carter, our
25:14
2026 Chalkwalk ambassador, please
25:16
welcome his mom, dad, and sister, Jamie,
25:20
Tim, and Taylor.
25:36
Hi everyone.
25:41
>> You fell back up.
25:52
We are so honored and thankful for this
25:54
opportunity to share um about our son
25:57
Carter. As you can see from the video,
25:59
he lived life larger than life. Um he
26:03
lost his hair and he said, "No problem.
26:06
I I'll be faster now. Just get me some
26:08
more hats. It's not a big deal."
26:10
And you know, as I said, they told us
26:13
right from the first day that kids find
26:15
ways to be kids. And you can see how
26:18
Chalk supported that the whole time
26:21
dressing up um as bad guys. So Carter
26:24
and Captain America were never in the
26:26
same place at the same time. Um they
26:28
would point us out, go down that way,
26:31
then bet there's some bad guys there,
26:32
this way. Carter was never in his um in
26:36
his room for treatment. Um, they had to
26:41
hunt us down. They set a timer on his,
26:44
um, IV bag to say, um, gosh, I got to
26:47
find you. We got to change your chemo.
26:48
>> Figured out how to turn it off.
26:51
>> Chalk was amazing. It was a place that
26:54
it still continues to be a place that I
26:57
remember early on, we never wanted, you
26:59
never want to have to go to Chalk, but
27:02
you're so happy that it exists when you
27:04
do have to.
27:06
Um it the first night when Carter got
27:09
diagnosed um they he was in the ER. He
27:13
had no idea he was he was doing great
27:14
and um they brought him Legos and I
27:17
remember him so clearly um turning to
27:19
Tim and saying um you come here every
27:22
night, you know. So um we had no idea it
27:25
would become our second home uh for a
27:28
year. But in you can see that Carter
27:32
appreciated every little mundane moment.
27:34
I was reminded of, you know, it was
27:37
raining and he was in the car just
27:40
squealing, "This is an adventure. I
27:42
can't believe it. Oh my gosh, look at us
27:45
go." You see, he's a lover of baseball.
27:47
Any home run was the biggest deal in his
27:50
life. His smile took over his face, arms
27:54
extended and exuberant. um the jogathon
27:57
at his school. I remember after a year
27:59
after he was diagnosed, he was able to
28:01
uh return to school and going into the
28:04
jogathon and he drop I dropped him off
28:06
and he said he's five years old and he's
28:09
like waited my whole life for this day
28:11
and it's finally here. So, um chalk was
28:16
a big deal for Carter, too. And it's a
28:17
big deal for our family to be able to
28:20
represent um and give back to this
28:23
hospital. Um it's amazing that he packed
28:26
so much into his six years of life and
28:30
so much of that happened after he was
28:32
diagnosed at four years old and to that
28:35
we are so grateful for Chalk for
28:37
allowing him to have all those continued
28:40
opportunities. I mean he had there was a
28:42
picture there from Carousa. He had a
28:44
whole SCA concert in his honor um as a
28:48
fundraiser so for chalk. So, um it's
28:53
we're just con just so grateful for um
28:56
Chalk, this the nurses, the staff, the
28:59
child life who were there for us in a
29:01
time that was the hardest part of our
29:04
time and now living without him has
29:08
become the hardest part of our life.
29:14
Also, you see little sister Tay who was
29:16
two years old in the time. Um they
29:18
welcomed her in right there. Hey, is
29:20
baby sis here? They take her around,
29:22
make sure she got toys, bringing her
29:24
toys over to the radio station. Um you
29:27
see him holding up bingo cards. Carter
29:30
wanted to see um the list of events that
29:32
was happening at Chocolates where it was
29:34
like um you know if the angels were
29:37
coming um or if there was an art
29:40
activity or uh you know people from
29:42
Legoland were coming. It was it's just
29:46
if if I was we always say if I was sick
29:48
I would want to go to chalk. Um he had
29:51
to get a phone call to find out if he'd
29:53
made counts and would have to go be able
29:55
to um be inatient. And um he could hear
29:59
me on the phone talking and he'd be
30:01
like, "Yeah, we get to go to the
30:02
hospital." And the girl on the line was
30:05
like, "Is he cheering?" I well if I had
30:09
a chance um if when you're undergoing um
30:13
chemotherapy your immune system is
30:16
suppressed and you know when we're home
30:19
you we couldn't see people we couldn't
30:21
we had to be isolated we had to
30:22
quarantine before the whole country and
30:25
world was doing that so he liked it at
30:28
chalk he got to see a lot more people
30:29
he's real social he'd jump up and give
30:32
you a high five um h humongous hug Um,
30:36
to know Carter is to love Carter. And so
30:39
I'm so happy to be able to share um
30:42
about him. So you guys get to know him
30:44
and love him as we do. Something Carter
30:47
wanted to do is cure cancer. He wanted
30:49
to work at Chalk. So since he didn't get
30:51
that opportunity, we take that on as our
30:54
responsibility to do that. Um, we do
30:56
that by talking endlessly endlessly and
30:59
endlessly about him and probably
31:01
oversharing as I do. um advocating and
31:05
giving back to causes that are
31:07
meaningful to us and um and to our
31:09
family. So, we advocate and give back to
31:12
Chalk and to um cancer research. As I
31:15
mentioned, we're so excited for the
31:17
future partnering with RAY Children's
31:19
Health and all those opportunities that
31:21
are going to be available to um to
31:23
children undergoing cancer treatments.
31:28
something that I was told on the first
31:31
day of his diagnosis was my world was
31:34
collapsing and I remember like how do I
31:37
do this? How do how are we going to
31:39
survive this? How do we do this? And
31:41
someone told me these little victories.
31:43
You find those little victories and you
31:44
cling to them every day. So, since that
31:47
day, I uh from day one, I created a
31:51
private Facebook group and I gave a
31:54
little update every day and I'd always
31:55
end with five little victories that got
31:58
us through each day. Um, and today we
32:01
get to celebrate a big little victory by
32:03
being formally announced as the 2026
32:06
Chalkwalk Ambassador family.
32:13
The Carter song was fight song. Um, and
32:18
like a small boat in the ocean, sending
32:20
big waves into motion. Everything that
32:22
you guys are doing here, every share,
32:24
every dollar, every donation, every
32:27
participant in the chalkwalk is sending
32:30
big waves into motion. No donation is
32:33
too small. Those little donations add up
32:36
to big waves that send huge waves into
32:38
motion. So just the partnering with Ray
32:41
Children's is just the beginning. I just
32:43
can't wait to see uh where this wave is
32:45
going to go.
32:47
You never know what impact that one
32:51
dollar will have that sharing that story
32:53
with that one person who you're
32:55
inspiring that that I you know having
32:59
Taylor be involved with fundraising from
33:01
since she was two years old. You don't
33:03
know if that child is going to be the
33:05
one who is motivated to be a scientist
33:08
that has the idea that's going to cure
33:11
the cure cancer. Which businessman is
33:13
going to be um inspired to donate and
33:16
that dollar or that idea and that um
33:20
that that that
33:23
story will be what it is that creates
33:27
that cancer-free world that we just hope
33:29
for and wish for all the time. So, I
33:33
just really hope that you understand
33:36
that no matter how small a donation, um,
33:38
it can have a big impact. Just look at
33:42
sometimes the biggest inspiration comes
33:44
in the smallest packages, like a a
33:46
little six-year-old boy.
33:51
This will be our 10th year walking um,
33:54
at Chalk. The first two years we walked
33:56
as Carter Strong and this will be our
33:58
eighth year walking as Carter Strong
33:59
forever. So, it's so momentous and
34:01
exciting and we are on we are just so
34:04
grateful for this opportunity um to
34:06
share and just because his life ended
34:10
his story doesn't have to. So, we are
34:12
selfishly again so grateful for this
34:15
opportunity to talk to Disneyland to Ray
34:17
Children's um to continue that story.
34:20
So, we will see you on August 2nd for
34:23
the chalkwalk in the park bright and
34:24
early up before the sun as Carter used
34:26
to say. It's Tim's birthday on that day
34:29
too. So extra celebration all day.
34:33
So I hope to see you there. I hope to
34:35
make it a really big impactful event.
34:36
It'll be such a big victory for us. So
34:39
thank you all so much.
34:49
>> I see a lot of cake in your future.
34:53
>> Let's hear it again for everybody. Come
34:55
on.
35:02
Well, I don't know what to say.
35:03
>> I don't either.
35:04
>> Yeah.
35:04
>> Well, good night everybody.
35:08
>> Wow.
35:08
>> Yeah. Um well, before we um head into
35:12
the uh rest of the evening, which we
35:14
have more. We do have more. Uh couple of
35:17
reminders. Uh how many of you are magic
35:20
key holders? Don't raise your hands. I
35:22
know. I know. I know. Uh a few of you.
35:26
Just a few, right? Just a few of you. Uh
35:28
just want to remind you that um if you
35:31
join a Magic Key team,
35:33
>> Mhm.
35:33
>> you may qualify for special fundraising
35:35
incentives such as you'll um you'll uh
35:39
if if you um raise the fundraising
35:42
minimum by uh event check-in, you'll
35:44
receive a special magic key cha rally
35:47
talent. How cool is that? But here's the
35:50
neat thing. And the top fundraiser, if
35:53
they are a US citizen and 18, uh, will
35:56
win a complimentary one night stay at
35:59
the Disneyland Hotel.
36:02
>> That's kind of neat. I like that
36:04
>> for three guests.
36:05
>> Oh, wow.
36:06
>> Yeah, you get to bring friends.
36:07
>> That's so cool.
36:08
>> I have two friends. Yeah. So,
36:11
>> okay.
36:12
>> And also, and we're bringing back the
36:14
Disneyland Resort park hopper.
36:18
>> Come on. Everybody likes
36:19
>> Everyone likes the park hopper. Yeah, we
36:21
all like the park hopper. So, if you
36:23
raise a minimum of $400 and you'll
36:26
receive the Disneyland park hopper good
36:28
for Sunday, August 2nd. So, you get to
36:30
extend the fund of Chalkwalk. We like
36:33
that, right?
36:34
>> Chalk never ends.
36:35
>> That's right. And I want to remind
36:38
everybody that on Friday, June 12th, we
36:41
have returning Chalk uh Chalk Sweet
36:44
Treats Day at Chick-fil-A.
36:46
>> Woo! And uh my waistline will not enjoy
36:50
that. But I will I will enjoy that
36:53
>> because I like those cookies. But I like
36:55
the brown. Let's talk about the
36:56
brownies.
36:58
>> Okay. Let's talk about the brownies with
36:59
the ice cream. Okay. Do we like the ice
37:02
cream with the brownies or do we like
37:04
the cookies with the ice cream?
37:06
>> Brownie.
37:07
>> Who likes the cookies with the ice
37:08
cream?
37:09
>> Come on. Show hands now. Who Who prefers
37:12
the brownies?
37:13
>> Yeah.
37:13
>> Okay. Team brownie wins.
37:15
>> Yeah. Team brownie. All right.
37:16
>> On my side.
37:17
>> Now, hold on. Now, you can freeze the
37:19
brownies. All right.
37:21
>> Or you can freeze the cookies. Who
37:23
freezes the cookies?
37:25
>> Nobody freezes the cookie. Who freezes
37:27
the brownies?
37:27
>> Yeah.
37:28
>> Okay. See, keep keep browning this.
37:31
>> I don't have any money for
37:32
>> You guys are good.
37:34
>> I like these people.
37:35
>> Me, too. Even more.
37:37
>> Yeah. So, that's Friday, June 12th.
37:40
That's a beautiful day. And all
37:41
proceeds, of course, go to trucks. It
37:44
makes it even better. And that is all uh
37:47
at participating Orange County
37:49
Chicklets. And you saw some uh social
37:53
media tags for Carter Strong and such.
37:56
What is the hashtag for chalk?
38:00
>> Very smart. #walk. Very, very good. All
38:04
right. And Bill, you're going to wrap
38:05
things up for us.
38:06
>> We want to thank all of you for being
38:08
here tonight. It means so much, but the
38:10
fun is not over. We keep it going,
38:12
right, Tim?
38:13
>> We do. We do. But you'll be brownies and
38:15
cookies. Not
38:18
>> not no. But you're now invited even
38:21
better than brownies and cookies to meet
38:22
our chalkwalk ambassador family Jamie,
38:25
Tim, and Taylor. Meet Aurelia from
38:28
Disneyland. And the best part, pose with
38:31
Choco Bear. Like how amazing.
38:34
Yes. Um so grab some popcorn. We're
38:36
going to have some fun movie on the
38:38
screen.
38:39
>> Little bit of eye candy. Now where's
38:41
Chicago Bear going to be? He's going to
38:43
be out in the lobby.
38:44
>> Got a great picture.
38:46
>> And uh I believe Aurelia will be here.
38:49
>> Yep. We'll be here. And then you
38:50
influencers can create some fun happy
38:52
chalk moments with Choco Bear Aurelia
38:54
and the family
38:55
>> and and influencers before you got a
38:58
chat with you. So uh make sure you talk
39:00
to me. And that's it everybody. So have
39:02
some fun. Grab some
39:06
and life is good. So thank you
39:07
everybody.
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