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 2024, participants raised over $2.35 million, much needed funds in support of our 150 official charity partners. In fact, since the TCS Charity Challenge began in 2003, you’ve helped raise over $55 million! Your hard work and commitment to fundraising made a significant impact in our communities. 

Register for a 5K, Half Marathon, or Marathon 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. 

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, 2025.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 by July 31, 2025. 

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 2025 TCS Charity Challenge information package for more details. Please contact charity@canadarunningseries.com. 

Charity Village 

Our Charity Village takes place in the post-race area at Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday, October 18th. Once you complete your 5K, take a stroll through to play games, learn about our charities, and maybe get a sweet treat to finish your race off strong.  

If you are an Official Charity Partner looking to be involved in the Charity Village, please contact charity@canadarunningseries.com.  

NEW: Charity BLOCK PARTY 

We’re excited to bring a new on-site activation to our 5K course this year, the Charity Block Party! 

Official Charity Partners, spectators, families and friends are invited to take part in our 5K celebration on Saturday, October 18th at our Charity Block Party! Located along an 800m stretch of the 5K course at Front and Bay Streets, the Charity Block Party is the perfect spot to cheer on participants as they pass the 1K and 4.5K marks.  

This section of the course will be filled with music, charity cheer groups, fun signs and more to help participants crush their 5K run goals. And that’s not all – we’re also thrilled to announce that a Tim Horton’s coffee truck will be on-site as well to keep everyone in the Charity Block Party energized! 

If you are an Official Charity Partner looking to be involved in our Charity Block Party, 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

Marathon Jrs & goIT

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.

Marathon Jrs 

Encourage students to commit to their own fitness journeys through the Marathon Jr’s Program! There is no cost for your school to participate and all students will receive a shirt, medal and training resources. 

Program Goals: 

• Encourage & empower students to commit to their own fitness journey in a comfortable community/team building environment. 
• Provide students with knowledge & skills to build the confidence to lead a healthy & active lifestyle. 
• Provide a fun & active program for schools with a common fitness goal – motivate and support each other to complete the TCS Toronto Waterfront 5K! 
• Build an enthusiastic school team spirit/recognition environment: 
• Choose a colour theme (school colours?) or style theme 
• Come up with a school team cheer 
• Encourage family and friends to create cheer cards/signs in advance 

How Does it Work? 

• Students complete 37km by running a few kilometers each day, beginning in September. 
• Tracking resources and additional information will be shared prior to the start of school year. 
• Run the final 5km together on October 18th as part of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. 
• Students should be in Grades 4-8. 

5K Race: 

• Saturday, October 18th at 9:00 a.m. 
• The event will start and finish near Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto City Hall. 
• Post-race food & beverages are provided. 
• Bus transportation is available (Min. 25 students registered) 

Race Registration & Race Kit Distribution: 

• A custom promo code will be provided for your students to register online 
• 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 will be made to drop off School Race Kits on Friday, October 17th 
• Coaches/Teachers will be responsible for distributing to the students and chaperones prior to race day 

How to register your school? 

Please complete the online school registration form by July 4th, 2025. 

Questions? Please contact Bonnie Taylor