With the colorful backdrop of a New England fall, thousands of real-life superheroes will gather on the Dartmouth College Green Sunday, October 20, for the annual CHaD HERO. The premier athletic fundraiser for Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD), the HERO features a variety of family-friendly races and activities that support kids and programs at New Hampshire’s only children’s hospital.

Starting in 2006 as just a half-marathon run, it has grown to include a competitive 5K run and walk, one-mile family fun run, 25 or 50-mile bike ride, and a 5-mile hike. Youngsters looking to make a super impact can participate in Cam’s Course, a one-mile circuit promoting fitness and philanthropy to kids.  All events will take participants, decked out in their superhero attire, through the beautiful Upper Connecticut River Valley and end on the Dartmouth Green in downtown Hanover.

While the heroes are on the course, friends, family, and spectators can take in the HERO festival on the Green.  The festival includes local food vendors offering a wide variety of delicious items. Kids can enjoy the KidZone with mechanical animal rides, face painting, and more. There will also be live entertainment and plenty of opportunities to cheer on HERO participants.

Each year, a CHaD kid is selected to be the ambassador to the HERO.  This year’s Kid HERO is Finn Webster, a plucky three-year-old from Hanover. Finn is a regular patient at CHaD due to complications related to Down syndrome; a congenital heart defect makes Finn a frequent visitor. Finn will have a lifelong relationship with CHaD – because of his heart defect, he will see a pediatric cardiologist for his entire life.  Finn is also the inspiration behind CHaD HERO Team Finn 321, which raised nearly $4,000 in 2018.

Heroes and spectators alike can check out the full event schedule by visiting CHaDHERO.org.  Participants are currently raising money while training for their specific event. Supporters can assist them with a donation made directly to their HERO fundraising page on the website.

Register now to support CHaD kids. The event website has registration and fundraising information as well as training plans to get heroes ready for race day.

The CHaD HERO raised $800,000 last year through participant fundraising, donations, and generous corporate sponsors. This year’s major sponsorship partners include The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation and the Hypertherm HOPE Foundation. Other supporting partners include Global Rescue, Bank of America, Couch Family Foundation, the Kitchel-McLaughlin Family Foundation, Norwich Partners, Children’s Fund of the Upper Valley, White Mountain Insurance, Ulysses Holdings, and Woodstock Farmerr’s Market.

For more information about the CHaD HERO, visit www.CHaDHERO.org