Ottawa Race Weekend Hits $10M Raised for 80+ Charities

Imagine raising millions for local charities while getting in your morning run. That's exactly what's happening this May at the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, where runners will help push total donations past $10 million since the program launched in 2015.

More than 80 local charities will participate in the Desjardins Charity Challenge on May 23 and 24, using the free platform to raise awareness and funds for causes ranging from youth programs to environmental protection. Every registration becomes more than a race entry. It becomes a chance to rally coworkers, friends, and family around organizations making real differences in Ottawa.

Sam Laprade knows the challenges charities face. As creator and host of Rogers TV Ottawa's "An Hour to Give," she's spent 35 years helping nonprofits thrive. She says Ottawa charities struggle most with two things: creating awareness and raising sustainable funding.

"Inspiring new donors for the first time and keeping current donors aware of the lives being changed or potentially even saved through donations to a local charity is crucial," Laprade explains. Limited resources make sharing impact stories difficult for many organizations working to help people, animals, and the environment.

The race weekend solves this problem by offering a no-cost fundraising platform. Through the integrated JustGiving system, charities receive donations directly while participants amplify impact either individually or as teams. Corporate teams bring extra energy, often led by people personally touched by a charity's mission.

The Ripple Effect

Laprade's advice for team captains starts with dreaming big and asking the five W's and one H. Teams should determine what they want to accomplish, when to launch their campaign, who to invite, where to share their message, and how to raise money. But the most important question is why.

"Start your dream big session with why you're supporting this charity while sharing your own stories," she says. Personal stories inspire teams to stay tenacious in both running and fundraising, helping everyone cross both finish lines with a personal best.

The platform has transformed how Ottawa companies engage with local causes. Instead of writing a single check, teams spend weeks building awareness, sharing stories, and bringing new supporters into the fold. Those connections often last well beyond race weekend.

Since 2015, participants have raised nearly $10 million for Ottawa charities through this single weekend event. That's millions of dollars flowing directly to organizations working on the ground in the community. It's also thousands of new connections between donors and causes they might never have discovered otherwise.

This year's race could be the one that pushes the total past that milestone $10 million mark, turning every kilometer into a celebration of what communities can accomplish together.