Charity Challenge
The Vancouver Half Marathon 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! Help us reach our fundraising goal of $500,000 this year!
In 2024, participants raised over $450,000, much needed funds in support of our 28 official charity partners. Help us surpass that total in 2025 by signing up for the Vancouver Half Marathon Charity Challenge today!
Official Charities
Click below for a list of participating Charity Partners in the 2025 Charity Challenge.
BECOME AN OFFICIAL CHARITY
To apply, charities must be a registered Canadian charity in good standing with the CRA. Participating charities must apply before May 9th, 2025.
Summary of the benefits of participating in the Charity Challenge:
- Raise Awareness: 6,000+ registered runners can engage with and support your charity.
- Community Involvement: Opportunities for on-site activations such as water stations, cheer stations, and finish line booths to engage with your fundraisers, donors, supporters, and broader community.
- Focus on Fundraising: We handle all logistics; you can concentrate on fundraising.
- Maximized Donations: Donors can cover processing fees (6.5% of the donation), ensuring more of their contributions go directly to charity.
- Simple Registration and Fundraising: Experience hassle-free race registration, online fundraising, and tax receipting on one simple platform – Race Roster!
- Prizes: A chance to win one of seven Charity Challenge cash prizes totaling $12,750 in the following categories:
- Largest total dollars raised,
- Largest number of fundraising runners,
- Largest average dollars raised per fundraising runner, and
- New charity with the largest total dollars raised.
- Charity Referral Donation Model: Each charity will receive a customized referral link, which provides the charity with a $5 referral donation per individual who successfully registers online via the referral link.
- Payment: Charities will receive online donations (net of processing fees) via weekly direct deposit or bi-weekly cheque payment (payment profile set-up required).
We are now accepting applications from charities to join the 2025 Charity Challenge!
Do you represent a charity and want more information on becoming an official charity in the Charity Challenge? Please view our Charity Challenge Information Package here and contact charitywest@canadarunningseries.com with any questions.
SUPPORT AN OFFICIAL CHARITY
Are you looking to support an Official Charity partner of the Vancouver Half Marathon? Here are some tips to help get you started.
Select the charity you would like to fundraise for
Click here for the list of official charities of the 2025 Charity Challenge.
Would you like to raise money for a charity that is not listed? The charity must apply before May 9th, 2025. Please ask them to review the Become an Official Charity section.
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!
Already registered for the event and would like to fundraise?
To customize your page, visit the Donate to Participant page, search for your name, and click on Donate.
Sign in to Race Roster if not yet logged in (top right).
Click Edit fundraising page below the profile image on the right-hand side.
Specify your fundraising goal, write a personal message, and upload a photo.
Be sure to scroll down and click Save updated fundraising information.
Not yet registered for the event? Follow these steps to register and create your fundraising account
Click here to view a list of charity teams, search for charity team, and click Join Team
Complete the race registration form. By following each step, you will enroll in both the race and fundraising program.
Once registered, you will receive two confirmation emails:
An email for your race entry – Transaction Receipt – with confirmation number
An email with a link to access your personal fundraising page.
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 #VancouverHalf.