On Sunday, October 20, a population of local heroes amassed at the starting line. Some were dressed in brilliant Wonder Woman costumes; others came as Superman or Batman. Still others sported t-shirts and ribbons displaying the name of a loved one for whom the race was being run. No matter what the costume, everyone was there that day to achieve a common goal: supporting CHaD in its work on behalf of children of the Dartmouth area.

The turnout was spectacular. From the 1-Mile Fun Run to the Half Marathon, every event was packed with eager participants decked out in superhero garb. Children and families participated in Cam’s Course of one mile, sporting their costumes and determinedly running the loop around the Dartmouth campus in Hanover. Many teenagers and adults opted for the 5k course, which circled Occom Pond. Braver souls attempted the Half Marathon, which included a jaunt across the Ledyard Bridge and up Rip Road (runners will appreciate the commitment required to ascend that hill).

The true heroes of the day, and those who really drove the event, were the dozens of volunteers who donated their helping hands and beaming smiles. Volunteers did everything, from setting up food tables to handing out medals to the finishers as they crossed the line.

Another defining factor of the success of the race was the number of donations. Local restaurants and businesses provided their products on site for participants. The yummy edibles included McNamara chocolate milk, King Arthur Flour bread, and Green Mountain Creamery yogurt. Kids could also enjoy rides on mechanical animals or scale a rock-climbing wall. As Gray Harrison, a cross-country runner and CHaD Hero, says, “It was a great way to bring people together.”

The success of the day is still growing, thanks to a music video created by CHaD members. The video features children at the Hitchcock lip-syncing to Katy Perry’s “Roar.” The video went viral soon after it was posted on YouTube and has well over 2.5 million views to date, a number that is still growing. The video did more than just spread awareness of and love for CHaD, shares Brit Hastings, a longtime participant of the event and daughter of race director Jeff Hastings. “It encouraged a lot of people to donate after the run and brought in a lot more donations.” In fact, the video even gained national recognition. The stars of the video (patients at CHaD) earned a broadcasted interview with Piers Morgan.

Indeed, the joy of the day was aimed to raise money and spread awareness of the Children’s’ Hospital at Dartmouth, and it achieved all that and more. Through the generosity of all these heroes, the event raised more than $685,000. But more importantly, it raised joy, love, and hope in our Upper Valley community.

To help achieve the fundraising goal of $775,000, visit the CHaD HERO homepage. You can be a HERO too.