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The 4th Annual Run For Chief

June 20, 2026
Sawyer Point Park (near Procter & Gamble Pavilion)
Cincinnati, OH 45202 US

Countdown till Race Day!

Events

Run for Chief 5K

Run for Chief 5K

Price: $30
Time: 9:00AM EDT 12:00PM EDT
Price increases after March 31, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT

Run for Chief Relay Race

Price: $30
Time: 9:00AM EDT 12:00PM EDT
Price increases after March 31, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT

Race Day

Prior to the race at 8:45 AM, the Woodard Family will speak about the impact Run for Chief has made over the past year at Children's Heart Institute! The race will then begin at 9:00 AM at Sawyer Point. We ask that if you plan on walking the race, to line up towards the back of the crowd at the start line. 

Stay afterwards to enjoy food and drink, a live DJ, and meet some new people just like Jay Chief would have done! 

 

Sawyer Point address: 799E E Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Parking

There are a few places to park for the race:

- Sawyer Point Parking Lot for $5 (799E E Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202).

- Along Riverside Drive near Montgomery Inn Boathouse (925 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202). Note: You CANNOT park within the large parking lot next to Montgomery Inn or you are at risk of being towed.

- Some parking spots are available next to Friendship Park (1135 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202)

 

On June 20th at Sawyer Point in Cincinnati, we will hold the 4th Annual “Run for Chief” race in honor of Jaden Woodard. Jay Chief, as he was often called, was born with a heart defect and underwent multiple heart surgeries by the age of two. At 11, his heart began to fail, and he required a heart transplant. In 2014, as a freshman at Summit, he received his new heart at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and was able to thrive socially and academically in the years following his surgery. He also ran for Summit’s cross country and track teams which is an extraordinary feat given his condition. Jay Chief graduated from Summit in 2018 and attended The Ohio State University as a finance major. Jaden interned at JPMorgan Chase Bank in New York City before the start of his senior year of college where he had the time of his life and made some of his closest friends. Jaden passed away on September 12, 2021 at the age of 21 after complications with his new heart.
The proceeds will continue to be donated to families at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital who have children receiving heart transplants just like Jaden did. Heart transplants are expensive, with an average cost of $1,670,000 before insurance, and families face additional costs such as long drives, hotel stays, and hospital food. Our goal is to alleviate a portion of that financial stress through our donations while also bringing a smile to the faces of the patients!
Jaden’s legacy and positive impact continues to live on through the “Run for Chief” race through this race and the donations made at Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute.
 

Donations

Since last year's race, we have started a fund in Jaden's name at Cincinnati Children's Hospital! This fund now allows for tax-deductible donations which can be made here. It is encouraged to donate using this link rather than donating through the Run Sign Up webpage. 


Over the past two years your donations have been used for: 

  • An all-inclusive day at Kings Island for patients and their families
  • Christmas gifts for the patients and their siblings
  • Lunches for the doctors, nurses, and support staff that provide world-class care and more!

THANK YOU!

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