The event brings the community together to raise funds for healthcare programs at CHOC for Southern California’s kids, especially programs and services in the greatest need.

I’ve been a proud supporter of the CHOC Walk in the Park for years. Each person who volunteers has their own story of why they walk. Mine is a tribute to my nephew Dominic, who we lost to leukemia when he was 10. Although he lived across the country far away from CHOC and received excellent care elsewhere, supporting CHOC gives me a way to remember his childhood and do my part to preserve the health of local children.

At a recent CHOC event, we were able to meet this 2023 CHOC Walk Ambassador and hear his CHOC story. I did my best not to blubber in the back of the room.

2023 CHOC Walk Ambassador, Hudson Kent

At just 15 months, Hudson Kent was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Before he would turn 3, Hudson would endure four surgeries and six months of chemotherarpy.

“Even on the darkest days, there is a light. And for us, that was CHOC,” says Eby, Hudson’s mom.

Thankfully, he is celebrating 12 years cancer free! I’ll be proud to walk through the park with Hudson’s network, Team HHK, in August. I hope you can join me!

When is CHOC Walk 20203

For the first time since 2019, the CHOC Walk in the Park is back at the Disneyland® Park! Join the fun on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at the Disneyland® Park!

“We’ve been involved with ‘CHOC Walk in the Park’ for 33 years, and we are excited to bring it back
as a magical 5K experience inside the parks,” said Ken Potrock, president of Disneyland Resort.
“Over the decades, we have helped raise $42 million to help CHOC support children and families in
our community. We are proud to welcome back this highly anticipated event and to continue Walt
Disney’s legacy of being an active, supportive, and caring neighbor.”

Together, CHOC supporters will join as a community to walk down Main Street, U.S.A. and throughout the special park pathway. Along the way you’ll find magical surprises and appearances!

When does CHOC Walk start?

The fun begins at 6:15 a.m. on August 20th when enthusiastic fundraisers will begin their approximate 3.5-mile course through Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park before the parks open to the public.

Learn More about CHOC Walk

Event information, registration specifics, and information on joining or forming a team can be found at
www.chocwalk.org. Real-time event information can also be found via “Choc Walk” on Facebook,
Instagram, and YouTube.

Donating to CHOC Walk

I’m proud to be fundraising for the 33rd CHOC Walk in the Park, presented by the Disneyland® Resort. You can join our team Clementine County or make a donation on our CHOC Walk page.

Make sure to save the date for August 20th. We’ll see you at the Disneyland® Resort!

I was thrilled to be able to enjoy a night learning about the fun planned for this first-of-its-kind event.

We’ve loved the past CHOC Walk events — from being surrounded by motivated community members to the special magic of the Disneyland Resort. I know that this all new fun will be something truly special.

CHOC Adventure in the Park Details

For one night only, Disney California Adventure® Park comes to life with exclusive experiences for CHOC supporters, including access to many of the park’s attractions, dining, and retail locations throughout the evening. Rounding out the night are party keepsakes based on fundraising levels, a DJ, special photo locations, sightings of beloved Disney Characters, plus a special viewing of the nighttime spectacular World of Color! 

Starting at 5 pm, CHOC supporters that raise $250+ and secure their ticket can enter Disney California Adventure® Park to mix in with non-event Guests to enjoy the Park before the party begins. From 9 pm – 12 am, access to Disney California Adventure® Park becomes exclusive to CHOC supporters who have met the minimum fundraising threshold to enter the event.

Get a peek at the fun in store!

CHOC Adventure in the Park Fundraising

Fundraising for CHOC Children’s is at the heart of the event. The event brings in $3 million of funds each year for CHOC, covering pediatric healthcare at the two Orange County facilities. The funds brought in pay for a variety of services, programs, and even some special surprises for patients like therapy dogs.

Event Eligibility:

To be eligible to attend the in-person event, each participant must fundraise the minimum of $250 by August 20th. Make sure to hit your goal or opt out of the event before the deadline.

Head to the CHOC page for Fundraising Tips.

Fundraising Incentives:

Numerous incentives levels make fundraising extra special. While there are prizes for each level, I wanted to share what you many would consider the most important level: admission to the fun!

• $250 Adventure Package Level – Commemorate t-shirt, access to the first CHOC Adventure in the Park. Admission is first come, first served so make sure to register ASAP!

For a full breakdown of the prizes, including how to score this year’s super cute Vans, head to the Event Incentive Page.

My family and I are happily fundraising to make an impact in the lives of Orange County families. We’d greatly appreciate your support.

Donate to our CHOC Adventure in the Park today! Any amount helps us get to our goal of helping OC families.

August 27th can’t get here soon enough!

Make sure to visit the CHOC Adventure in the Park page for more information.

Thank you to all who supported our team during the 2019 CHOC Walk! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Disney makes magic; CHOC makes miracles”

Last weekend, 14,000 of my closest friends and I took to Main Street, USA to kick off the 29th annual CHOC Walk in the Park. The early (very, very early) morning began with check-in and excitement as teams started to arrive.

Teams of all sizes celebrate the magical morning. Some I recognized from past walks with coordinating shirts, signs, and fun props. I also adored the handmade signs from the cutest walkers!

We even saw our cute neighbors who have walked for 11 consecutive years in honor of their NICU graduate.

The emcee for the morning pumped up the crowd with the help of the most amazing ASL interpreter. Seriously, you’ve not experienced pop musics until you’ve seen them signed at 5:00 AM.

The morning continued with brief welcomes from Disneyland and CHOC representatives. Then a super special couple came to welcome in the ambassador family.

Oh hey, Mickey & Minnie!

This year I was joined in the walk with members of my family. My husband Matt, my mom, sister, and youngest daughter decided to slip on their sneakers and join in on the fun.

Thank you so much to Patrick Carrie for designing our shirts, and Totally Couture for making them!

The CHOC Walk is the ONLY walk within the Disneyland Resort. Each year the 5k route varies, and you never know who will stop by for photos. The walk traverses both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

The walk is made even more exciting with tons of meet & greets with Disney characters. Poppy counted the princesses, and hid from the Dark Side when she saw Darth. We have trained our Jedi well.

Why We Walk

Healthy kids are something we cherish.

The annual walk coincidentally happened to be scheduled on my nephew Dominic’s 22nd birthday. When he was just 10, Dominic was diagnosed with a intense form of leukemia. Within what feels like a second, we lost our sweet Dominic.

How I miss his sincere kindness, his brilliance, his creativity.

Finding ways to honor his memory is important to us. At his funeral, Dominic’s dad shared the words of Albus Dumbledore.

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times. If one only remembers to turn on the light.”

-Albus Dumbledore

Yes, I know Harry Potter is not Disney, but it’s a message I believe even my pal Walt Disney would support. Here was our chance to turn on the light, to do some good even on a dark day for our family.

Each year, an ambassador is selected for the CHOC Walk. 2019’s ambassador was 8-year-old Ella Boyle, who has been in remission for 2 1/2 years. Throughout the year, I’ve been honored to hear more of her story.

Ella’s family shared of their brave daughter’s fight against cancer. They spoke of her surgeries, her struggle to learn to walk 7 times. They also spoke of joyous snowball fights with Olaf’s fake snowballs, a bubble blowing anesthesiologist, of a Shopkins transport team.

They spoke of how Ella’s big sister was given the classification of “Super Sibling.” CHOC helped to maintain their family unit when it mattered most.

Did I cry a few extra happy tears hearing the triumph of Brave Boyle’s team story? Oh, absolutely!

CHOC’s Impact

Hearing Team Brave Boyle speak of their personal experience speaks volumes of this year’s theme “Defenders of Childhood.” Being sick as a kid doesn’t mean you aren’t a kid.

If you’ve never been to the CHOC campus, you may not realize that within the halls legitimate miracles are happening. But some serious fun is too.

Disney fans love the opportunity to hang with their favorite surfing turtle, Crush, at Turtle Talk within the Disney California Adventure Park. But Crush swims over to CHOC where patients can check in, get the surf report, and be reminded that they “so totally rock.” There’s a radio station, a movie screening room, and so many unique opportunities to help defend the special moments of childhood that may be lost after a hard diagnosis.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Melanie Walsh (@clementinecounty) on Jul 21, 2019 at 5:58pm PDT

I was able to join in the magic of the Minnie Walk, a mini version of the CHOC Walk held on the CHOC grounds for the patients whose health kept them away from the Disneyland walk. Sponsors spoiled families with toys, gift cards, and smiles. Plus, Minnie herself showed up!

Want to know more about CHOC’s impact?

• Over 220,000 kids are treated each year at CHOC
• 60% of those patients receive financial assistance
• CHOC operates the only mental health inpatient center for children under 12 in Orange County
• Next year, they’re opening the Thompson Autism Center

Support CHOC

This year’s CHOC Walk was a huge success. $2.5 billion has already been raised to support Southern California kids. But we aren’t quite done yet! Can you help reach the 2019 $3 million goal? There’s still time to donate!

You can make donations to CHOC here.

My tiny team had a magical morning. But we’d love you to join us! It’s never too early to start stocking up on coffee for an early morning through the Happiest Place on Earth for the 30th CHOC Walk in the Park in 2020.

Thank you, CHOC Walk, for the opportunity to host this magical giveaway!

CHOC Children’s relies on community support to offer leading care for infants, children, and adolescents close to home. The hospital lives the mantra “Long Live Childhood.”

How is CHOC Walk different?

CHOC Children’s serves over 250,00 children and families each year. It’s ranked among U.S. News & Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. It’s Orange County’s only mental health inpatient center for children under 12.

I’ve been able to spend time at CHOC for events like the annual Minnie Walk, a special walk for the children who are unable to join in the fun at the annual CHOC Walk. To see and hear of the first-class care and state-of-the-art treatment at CHOC is inspiring. To know of their commitment to defend childhood makes it an organization that makes my whole heart swell.

Another way the CHOC Walk in the Park is different…it’s the ONLY walk within the Disneyland Resort! Disney characters cheer you on as you walk throughout the park, making it a morning filled with memories!

Meet Team BraveBoyle

Each year, the CHOC Walk features one special family to serve as the CHOC Walk Ambassadors. Their stories are diverse, their mission the same. Pay it forward to support CHOC.

The 2019 CHOC Walk Ambassadors are Ella Boyle and her family. The sweetest little girl with the bravest family. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Team BraveBoyle speak. Ella’s dad spoke of walking the halls with Ella’s wagon, of joyous places with fake snowball fights led by everyone’s favorite snowman Olaf, and hospital employees who played with Ella like they had nowhere to be.

They spoke of maintaining the family unit through the hard fight against cancer and how big sister Madeline was known by name.

I cried listening to Ella’s mom talk about how her preschooler had to learn to walk 7 times. And how it was in CHOC’s room 536 where she let go of her cane. They are a family of strength, and brave doesn’t even begin to cut it when describing them.

Learn more about Ella’s story:

After getting to know the families part of CHOC like the Boyles, you can see why so many of us choose to walk in the CHOC Walk in the Park! We’d love to have you join us August 11 to walk.

You can sign up for our team or make donations here. 

CHOC Walk in the Park FAQs

• Sunday, August 11, 2019
• Main Street opens – 5:30 AM
• Opening ceremony Main Street U.S.A. – 6:00 AM
• Entrance cutoff time: 7:15 AM
• 5K walk through Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park.
• Early Bird Registration $85 per person (3 and older)
• Late Registration $95 after July 29, 2019.
•  Walkers ages 2 and under FREE
• CHOC Walk information booth will be available morning of for questions. 
• Free parking available for walkers, with the parking structure opening at 4:00 AM

CHOC Walk in the Park Incentives

Earn exclusive prizes for your fundraising efforts, helping CHOC reach their 2019 goal.

The CHOC Walk website breaks down the awesome prizes. Some things to consider:

Raise $85 to walk in the CHOC Walk in your 2019 t-shirt and get a walker wristband. The wristband makes you eligible for discounted Disneyland Resort tickets.

Discount Disneyland Tickets

*Valid only on 8/11/2019: Each participant raising at least $85 may present your CHOC Walk in the Park wristband to any designated Disneyland® Resort Ticket Booth to purchase (1) specially priced Disneyland® Resort 1-Day Park Hopper® ticket for $93 or 1-Day, 1-Park ticket valid at either Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure® Park for $67, for use on this or your next trip to Disneyland® Resort. Restrictions may apply including block out dates.
Limit: One time purchase per wristband. A maximum of (1) ticket may be purchased per wristband. Terms and conditions on the tickets shall apply. Tickets must be used by expiration date. Subject to change without notice.

CHOC Walk Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive two (2) CHOC Walk in the Park wristbands!

Important Details:

The two wristbands will allow winners to attend the CHOC Walk as walkers without fundraising. The winner will, however, have to sign up to walk. The $85 early bird registration minimum will be waived and you will pick up their wristbands during CHOC Walk check-in on Friday, August 9th and Saturday, August 10th at the CHOC Walk offices in Orange. Hours and location info on CHOC Walk check-in here: https://www.chocwalk.org/Static/Event-Check-In

Disney makes magic; CHOC makes miracles.

Will you be walking in the 2019 CHOC Walk in the Park? Let us know in the comments!

All thoughts and opinions are my own.  Please read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Healthy kids are something we cherish around here in Clementine County.  From losing my sweet nephew to acute lymphoblastic leukemia to my daughter’s medical issues, I can’t stress enough how precious our children’s health is. CHOC Children’s Hospital treat children throughout all of Southern California.  With the only pediatric trauma center and pediatric mental health center, plus the new autism center, CHOC is doing great work for the families it serves.

For the 28th year, we’ll be walking in the largest pediatric fundraiser and friend-raiser.  You can check out the fun of last year’s event here.

2018 Rock’N Luau

If you’re looking for a fun way to support CHOC Hospital’s CHOC Walk in the Park, then say “Aloha” to the Rock’N Luau!

Hosted at Downtown Disney’s retro-inspired Splitsville, the Rock’N Luau will bring a little Polynesian flair and a whole lot of fun to the fundraising.  Hula your way on over to Splitsville on Saturday, August 25th, 2018.  The event takes place the day before the CHOC Walk, which means it’s a great kick-off to the weekend.

Check-in for bowling tournament starts at 2:00 PM, with general check-in beginning at 2:30 PM.  The full celebration will begin at 3 PM, which will include bowling, buffet, kids’ activities, raffle live entertainment, and more! The word on the street is that this 1950’s flashback may even include an appearance by the hip-swinging Elvis!

We had an opportunity to get a peek at the fun during a media preview of the Rock’N Luau.  My lil’ Moana and I had so much fun on our Mommy & Me bowling date.  “Everybody thought I was literally Moana, Mama.”  I’m not sure where she picked up “literally,” but it works it’s way into every sentence.

The Minnie bowling balls add just the right amount of Disney flair to your fun!

We bowled our hearts away, enjoyed the amazing hula dancers (now she wants to dance like Lilo), dined on cheese pizza, and learned more about the Rock’N Luau fun!

Dave & Buster’s Giveaway

All of the amazing sponsors for CHOC Walk 2018 have really stepped up to make this year a tremendous success.  To encourage you to learn a little more about the CHOC Walk and Rock’N Luau, I’ve got a super fun giveaway to share with you!

One (1) lucky winner will receive 4 Dave & Buster’s gift cards worth 42 chips each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It’s never been so fun to fundraise for a worthy cause!

Why do you walk in CHOC Walk? We’d love to hear your stories!