TCS Charity Challenge

The TCS Charity Challenge unites the spirit of runners with a unique fundraising program to support local charities in our community. Choose a cause that’s close to your heart and create your own personalized fundraising page to share with family and friends. 

We all run for different reasons. Our charity partners represent a diverse selection of causes and we encourage you to run for what moves you! 

In 2023, participants raised over $2.42 million, much needed funds in support of our 159 official charity partners. In fact, since the TCS Charity Challenge began in 2003, you’ve helped raise over $53 million! Your hard work and commitment to fundraising made a significant impact in our communities. 

Register for a 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon or one of the Challenges at this years’ TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. During the process of registration, you’ll be given the option to sign up for the TCS Charity Challenge to fundraise for a participating community charity. 

Marathon Jrs & goIT

TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Jrs 

In-Person Race Day | Saturday October 19, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

Virtual Time Period | October 1-31, 2024

Highlights of Marathon Jrs program:

There is no cost for your school to participate.  (Regular 5K entry fees are $55)

All Students Receive:

• A race souvenir T-shirt
• Finisher’s medal
• Training program
• Tracking resources  
• Running bib

In-Person Race:

• The 5K race location to be confirmed.
• Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
• Bus transportation (Min. 25 students registered)
• A timed race
• Nutritional snack
• This option has a max capacity of 500 kids & chaperones total. (That’s 20 schools at 25 students/parents each.)

Virtual Race:

• Students can run anywhere any day anytime between October 1-31
• Access to upload 5K timing results online
• This option will be limited to 250 students

How Does it Work?

• Students should be in Grades 4-8
• Students will complete 42K, the distance of the marathon, beginning in early September.
• Students will need to complete a few kilometers a day adding up to 37k by October 19^th 
• On October 19^th they will run the final 5K at the in-person race or during the virtual race period (tracking resources and additional information will be shared prior to the start of school year) OR
• Students are required to do 10 minutes of daily physical activity each day leading up to the in-person race (October 19^th) or virtual race period (October 1-31)

Race Registration & Race Kit Pick-up:

• A custom promo code will be provided for your students to register online
• In-person 5K entries will be provided to chaperones at no charge 1 for every 8 students – additional parents/staff who wish to participate can register for a discounted price $30.00/member)
• Arrangements must be made to pick up Race Kits on Friday, October 18^th at the Race Expo & distributed to the students and chaperones prior to race day

How to register your school?

Please contact us by June 1^st for a copy of the school registration form  (charity@canadarunningseries.com)  

TCS Presents: go Innovate Together!

Preparing students with the skills, confidence, and mindsets necessary to pursue careers of the future!

What is goIT?

A Student-Centered, Digital Innovation and Career Readiness Program that aims to demystify computer science thinking, spark curiosity, and build confidence for students to explore a possible future in the digital world. work with TCS mentors.

• Find out how any student can find a career interest in the STEM-field!
• Learn how the world’s top innovators and disrupters develop ground-breaking technology!
• Build foundational skills in app coding, artificial intelligence, and more!
• Culminate the program by creating a product pitch in the same format used by today’s creative minds!

Our curriculum is created by a tag-team of educators and industry leaders. 

• Since 2008, it’s been student-tested, and teacher-approved 
• Students use a structured process to design a tech-based solution to a global problem, base on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• All of this is done alongside the support and mentorship of TCS volunteers. 

Join us for our third annual TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon goIT Challenge! 

• Toronto-area teachers can be invited to bring student groups to pitch their final digital solutions to a celebrity panel of judges on Marathon Weekend!
• Prizes awarded include marathon “swag” and more, with the grand prize of the event being V.I.P. access to the Marathon Finish Line in which students get to hold the “tape” for one of the races’ winners!

Interested teachers are asked to contact TDSB’s own Adrienne Britten at adrienne.britten@tcs.com by June 2, 2024.

TCS will guide you through everything you need, including making sure that your students are pitch-ready on Friday, October 18, 2024!

Official Charities

List of Official Charities to date.

Join the TCS Charity Challenge 

Click here to access the Charity Challenge FAQ section. 

Tips: 

1. Select the charity you would like to fundraise for: 

Click here for the list of official charity partners of the TCS Charity Challenge. 

Would you like to raise money for a charity that is not listed? The charity must  apply before July 31, 2024. Please ask them to review the Become an Official Charity section. 

2. Contact the charity. It’s beneficial: 

We recommend you contact the charity prior to signing up – they may have some additional information to share with you, including fundraising tips, and potential fundraising incentives! 

3. Sign-up for the TCS Charity Challenge: 

Click Register and complete the form. Please ensure you Join or Create a TCS Charity Challenge fundraising team! By following each step, you will enroll in both the race and fundraising program. 

4. Registration confirmation: 

Once registered, you will receive a registration confirmation email: 

•   An email for your race entry – Transaction Receipt – with confirmation number

5. Start fundraising! 

Customize your personalized fundraising page. Add some photos and share your story to appeal to your friends, family and colleagues.  

Be sure to share updates about your fundraising on social media using #chooseTOrun and #TOWaterfront42K  

Become an Official Charity 

Charities must be a registered Canadian charity in good standing with the CRA.  Interested charities must apply by July 31, 2024. 

A summary of the benefits of participating in the TCS Charity Challenge: 

• Participation in a large-scale community event without running any financial risk, allowing donations to take precedence over logistics. 
• Charities can easily automate their fundraising. 

Do you represent a charity and would like more information on becoming an official charity in the TCS Charity Challenge? Please contact our team to request a 2024 TCS Charity Challenge information package for more details. Please contact charity@canadarunningseries.com. 

Contact Us 

If you have a question or comments about the TCS Charity Challenge, contact us by email at charity@canadarunningseries.com. We will be happy to answer you as soon as possible. 

Official Charities