Join the Desjardins Charity Challenge
If you are already registered for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend and wish to run for a charity please follow these instructions.
The Desjardins Charity Challenge has raised over $5 million dollars for local and national charities to date!
Ready to run for a cause you believe in and win prizes? This is a great opportunity to give back to your community, through a fun, accessible, and fulfilling event. With access to online fundraising tools and support, it’s never been easier!
Join Run Ottawa for up coming information sessions to learn about the Desjardins Charity Challenge and the unique and fun team opportunities for your company to walk/run/roll together! There will be prizes, incentives, a Q&A and much more! Learn how you and your colleagues can take part in Canada’s biggest (and most exciting!) race weekend AND raise funds for your community as a winning team!
Next information session: TBA
You can sign-up for the Desjardins Charity Challenge individually, as part of an existing team, or start your own team! With over 90 charities to choose from, everyone has a reason to walk/run at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend!
Prizes!
Check out the exciting fundraising prizes for this year! Create a team and start your fundraising TODAY! All teams of ten or more will be entered to win exclusive fundraising prizes!
Raise over $20,000!
Dominos Pizza for a YEAR!
Personalized ASICS shirts for your whole team!
Raise over $10,000!
An exclusive Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend 50th anniversary running cap!
Personalized ASICS shirts for your whole team!
Raise over $5,000!
Marsquest sunglasses for your team!
Coach Soaks!
Not sure where to start? Check out this fundraising guide to kick off your fundraising journey!
You can sign-up for the Desjardins Charity Challenge individually, as part of an existing team, or start your own team in 3 simple steps:
STEP 1. Select the charity you would like to fundraise for!
Review the list of official charities of the 2025 Desjardins Charity Challenge. Choose the one you’d like to fundraise for.
Would you like to raise money for a charity that is not listed? For more information please visit the Official Charity page.
STEP 2. Sign-up for the Desjardins Charity Challenge and your race at the same time!
Register for a Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend event and select one of the following options during the registration process:
- ‘I’d like to create a new fundraising team‘ which will prompt you to create your own team and select your charity; or
- ‘I’d like to join an existing fundraising team‘ which will prompt you to select a charity or an existing team.
Once you’ve completed the registration, you will receive two confirmation emails:
- A Transaction Receipt, which includes your race entry confirmation number;
- An email with a link to access your personal or team fundraising page so you can customize it.
STEP 3. Start fundraising!
Customize your personal or team fundraising page. Add some photos and share your story with your friends, family, and colleagues through email, social media, or by hosting your own fundraising initiatives. Be sure to share updates about your fundraising efforts on social media by using @ottawaracewknd, #DesjardinsCharityChallenge and #RunOttawa2025 and your charity’s social media handle.