Dartmouth-Hitchcock

The Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) hosted their Fifth Annual CHaD Hero Half Marathon & Relay on August 29, 2010 at the Dartmouth College Green in Hanover, NH. Over 1,875 runners and walkers participated and raised more than $434,000 benefiting families and children of CHaD. In addition, the event recaptured a Guinness World Record for the most number of people dressed as superheroes, in one place at one time with 1,500.

This year's festivities kicked off at 8:30 a.m. with Cam's Course, a 1 mile family fun run around the Dartmouth College campus. At 10 a.m., 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist and world champion mogul skier, Hannah Kearney shot the ceremonial start gun that signaled participants to begin the half marathon, relay and Rip-cord 5K Run. Bestselling author and Hanover native, Jodi Picoult walked with participants along a 3 mile course around Occum Pond and through the town of Hanover.

Ryan Smith of Enfield, New Hampshire won the CHaD Hero Half Marathon with a time of 1:17:48. Daniel Clayton of Boston, Massachusetts came in second with a time of 1:18:40.

Tracey Joslin of Waitsfield, Vermont was the top female finisher at 1:25:45. Joslin set a new course record and captured her fourth consecutive win.  Nicole Santos of Lebanon, New Hampshire was the second female finisher at 1:27:11.

Following the race, CHaD declared that their Upper Valley Positive Tracks Challenge Grant reached its $100K goal.  The Positive Tracks Challenge Grant armed youth age 23 and under with a philanthropic mission as well as an athletic stake in the CHaD Hero Half Marathon by using the motivational power of sport and health in challenging them to connect with something larger than themselves. Jane's Trust, an organization focused on arts, culture, education, environment, health and welfare in Northern New England matched every dollar raised by participants bringing the total amount to $200K. Funds raised through the Positive Tracks Challenge will be directed to CHaD's most urgent funding needs.

"The outpouring of support for the families and children of CHaD is what made this event as fun and successful as it was," explained Sharon Brown, CHaD Community Relations Director. "Thank you to all of our participants and volunteers. We're excited about making next year's event even better."

All proceeds benefit CHaD. Since its inception in 2006, CHaD Hero Half Marathon and Relay total donations have surpassed $1 million. For more information, visit chadhalf.org.

About CHaD

As New Hampshire's only children's hospital, The Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) is committed to providing outstanding compassionate care for children and families. Their physician expertise provides primary, specialty, and tertiary care to the children of New Hampshire, Vermont, and beyond, as northern New England's children's hospital.  For patients living in southern and coastal New Hampshire, CHaD offers a comprehensive range of pediatric medical and surgical outpatient specialty services at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester and at Wentworth-Douglas Hospital, Dover, and Nashua.