The 22nd annual CHOC Walk in the Park at the Disneyland Resort on October 14 was a huge success, with 850 teams raising $1.8 million, and counting, for CHOC Children’s (Children’s Hospital of Orange County). Walking teams set several new records, including the Disneyland Annual Passholder walk team, which raised their highest amount to date with more than $60,000, and the Disney VoluntEARS walk team, which contributed $150,000, with matching funds from Disney.
This year, Disneyland Resort offered a one-night stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite for any cast member on the Disney VoluntEARS walk team who raised $5,000 or more. Ticket Services cast member Bill Weeks, a former kindergarten teacher, passed the $5,000 mark as the Resort’s top individual fundraiser. Of course, Weeks didn’t walk for the prize. He raised more than $6,000 in memory of a former student, Carson Bosley, who suffered a brain aneurysm at age 7 and passed away 19 days later, devastating Carson’s family and friends, including Weeks.
“The good people at CHOC Children’s were extraordinary,” Weeks said. “They worked relentlessly around the clock to restore him to good health. They made Carson’s family feel so special during his stay. They were, and still are, champions in my eyes. CHOC Children’s needs our support because they can’t reach all of the children in need without it.”
Weeks says he plans to donate his stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite, possibly to the Bosley family, in memory of Carson. “I always thought Carson would go on and do great things … and he has through CHOC Children’s,” Weeks said. Since its inception, CHOC Walk in the Park has raised nearly $21 million for health care programs, education and research at CHOC Children’s.
Tagged: DLR, VoluntEARS
Filed: Community Outreach, Disneyland Resort
