The CHaD HERO is a celebration of community, courage, and the belief that every child deserves a chance to thrive.
Keith J. Loud, MD, MScThe 20th annual CHaD HERO takes place Sunday, October 19, on the Dartmouth Green in Hanover, where thousands of community members—Dartmouth Health Children’s real-life superheroes—will gather for a fall festival, one-mile fun run, 5K run and walk, and the region’s most scenic half marathon.
Over the past two decades, the CHaD HERO has raised more than $10.6 million to support vital programs and medical care for Dartmouth Health Children’s. No child is ever turned away from Dartmouth Health Children’s and Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD), New Hampshire’s only children’s hospital, and the community’s support of the HERO helps kids lead their healthiest, happiest lives.
“The CHaD HERO is a celebration of community, courage, and the belief that every child deserves a chance to thrive,” said Keith J. Loud, MD, MSc, physician in chief of Dartmouth Health Children’s. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate 20 years of HEROes who make a positive impact on the children and families in our community and beyond.”
The action-packed HERO festival on the Dartmouth Green will include local food vendors, a KidZone with face painting, interactive science exhibits from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and the Montshire Museum of Science, giveaways, and much more. There will also be live entertainment on the main stage and plenty of opportunities to cheer on HERO participants.
This year’s HERO honors Kid HEROes who have exemplified courage and resilience in the face of serious health challenges.
Kid HERO, Owen, is known for his beaming smile and laughter, despite having been born weighing under two pounds and later overcoming stage IV cancer. His family credits CHaD for saving Owen’s life.
Angelyn, another Kid HERO being honored this year, was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 5. Her family is grateful for programs and services like Molly’s Place and the Child Life team for making her visits to CHaD a positive experience.
To learn more about our inspiring crew of Kid HEROEes—all of whom have benefitted from the care and services of Dartmouth Health Children’s and CHaD—visit chadhero.org.
The CHaD HERO is powered by incredible participants, volunteers, and sponsorship partners. A special thank you to this year’s major sponsors, including: the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, Hypertherm Associates HOPE Foundation, Couch Family Foundation, Finding Our Stride, Blood’s Catering and Party Rentals, and Summit Distributing.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system and the state’s largest private employer, serves patients across northern New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,000 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, as well as across its wide network of hospitals, clinics and care facilities. DHMC is consistently named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the only such center in northern New England; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital and multiple locations around the region; member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and more than 24 clinics that provide ambulatory and specialty services across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its historical partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually, and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials recognized across the globe with Geisel and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Dartmouth Health and its more than 13,000 employees are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.
About Dartmouth Health Children's
Dartmouth Health Children's is the only comprehensive pediatric healthcare system in the region. Fully integrated in Dartmouth Health and anchored for more than 30 years by Children's Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD)—in Lebanon, NH—Dartmouth Health Children's promotes health, advances knowledge, and delivers the best patient and family-centered care for infants, children, and adolescents across New Hampshire and Vermont. Dartmouth Health Children's conducts groundbreaking research and educates the next generations of health professionals as the primary pediatric partner of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Highly skilled and collaborative child health professionals provide care in multiple settings across the region. Outpatient specialty visits and same-day surgery services are available at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD) and Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester. Primary care appointments in general pediatrics are available at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics in Bedford, Concord, Lebanon, Manchester and Nashua, NH and Bennington, VT; as well as at Dartmouth Health members: Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Cheshire Medical Center, New London Hospital and Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center.