Hundreds of young triathletes came to Chapel Hill on Sunday to compete in a kids' only triathlon. The third annual Swim for Smiles event is a fundraiser for the N.C. Children's Hospital.

Co-founder Gary Kayye said he got the idea for the event after his own daughter was hospitalized.

"My daughter spent nine weeks in and out of the hospital when she was four years old," he said. "I saw what kids go through and what families go through."

Combining his own love for triathlons and his desire to do something for the hospital, Kayye decided to create a race just for kids, offering both a short course (100-meter swim, a 2.5-mile bike course and 1K/0.6 mile run) and a longer course (300-meter swim, transition to a 5-mile bike course and 3K/1.8 mile run).

The race has a board of directors and has grown from just 250 participants in the beginning to more than 430 young people this year, ranging in age from 6 years old to 17 years old. Parents of many of the younger participants rode alongside on their bikes. For kids like 11-year old Cameron Bellian, it was an introduction to the sport.

"I like riding my bike a lot and running," he said. "I kind of like swimming, so I thought it would be a good competition."

In three years, Swim for Smiles has raised more than $60,000 for the N.C. Children's Hospital. Returning athletes like Lauren Taekman helped to raise an estimated $35,000 more this year.

"I love helping raise money for the UNC Hospital," she said. "And it's great to know that it's for a good cause."

"Even though they're running and competing and they want to win, all of them know they're doing it for a great cause," said Gary Kayye. "All they had to do was run the race and they raised money for the hospital."

Find out more about Swim for Smiles at its website.