History

TIMELINE: 31 Years of Walking for Kids

November 10, 1990, was an important day for CHOC. On this milestone date, patients and staff moved through tunnels and halls, beginning the process of transitioning from their original building (constructed in 1964 through the efforts of local civic leaders and philanthropists, including Walt Disney) to a new patient care tower. While this was happening, nearly 1,000 community members walked past the new hospital for the inaugural CHOC/Disneyland® Community Walk.

The first CHOC Walk stretched over five miles, starting at Main Place Mall in Santa Ana, past CHOC and through neighborhoods to the Disneyland® Park parking lot. By its third year, the event had outgrown its route and moved to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa for the next nine years.

In 2002, the fundraising event returned to “The Happiest Place on Earth” and was transformed into “CHOC Walk in the Park,” presented by Disneyland® Resort. In this all-new incarnation walkers had the unique opportunity to stroll a 5K route through Disneyland® Park, Disney California Adventure® Park and the Downtown Disney® District, experiencing early morning magic before each area opened to the public.

It was the first event of its kind to take place at Disneyland® Resort and this new venue proved a huge success for CHOC. The inaugural walk was the biggest fundraising milestone in the event's history at the time, raising more than $550,000 for CHOC.

“CHOC Walk in the Park,” presented by Disneyland® Resort, continued to enjoy annual growth and in 2004, it became CHOC’s first-ever million-dollar event. Today the popular fundraising effort remains a favorite destination event among Southern California residents (and beyond).