Walking isn't just a great way to stay fit, it's also your chance to get the world into better shape. Here's your guide to organized charitable walks across the country. Whether you want to help raise money for heart disease, cancer or a more grassroots cause, there's a walk for you. Select your region from the handy drop-down menu below and put your best foot forward this spring.
National
Event: Winners Walk of Hope Walk 2K or 5K and help support Ovarian Cancer Canada
Location: Communities across Canada
Date: September 13, 2009
Charity: Ovarian Cancer Canada
Get more info: www.winnerswalkofhope.ca Event: MS Walk Walk 5K, 10K or 15K in this non-competitive event and raise funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. The disease affects 50,000 Canadians, mostly women.
Location: 142 communities across Canada
Date: April to September, 2009
Charity: Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Get more info: www.mssociety.ca Event: Walk the Trail Walk, bike or hike and raise money to support the Trans-Canada Trail.
Location: Communities across Canada
Date: June 7, 2008
Charity: The Trans-Canada Trail
Get more info:
Walk the Trail Event: Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone Location: Communities across Canada
Date: May 3, 2009
Charity: Proceeds go toward staffing Kids' Help Phone, a confidential help line for kids.
Get more info:
www.bellwalkforkidshelpphone.ca Event: Great Ride 'n' Stride Walk, run or ride your bike to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Location: communities across ON
Date: April - May 2009 – check site for smaller communities
Charity: Canadian Cancer Society
Get more info: www.cancer.ca Event: Mother's Day Walk Take a 2K to 5K walk through your local mall to help end breast cancer.
Location: communities across Canada
Date: Mother's Day – May 10 & 11, 2008
Charity: Breast Cancer Society of Canada
Get more info: www.mothersdaywalk.ca Event: World Partnership Walk Now in its 25th year, this is Canada's largest-scale national event to alleviate poverty in Asia and Africa. The day long event also features music, entertainment, food and educational displays.
Location: 9 cities across Canada
Date: May 31, 2009
Charity: Aga Khan Foundation Canada, a non-profit, non-denominational development agency that promotes sustainable and equitable social development in Africa and Asia
Get more info: www.worldpartnershipwalk.com Event: Purina Walk for Dog Guides Proceeds go to providing Dog Guides at no cost to Canadians who have a visual, hearing, physical or medical disability, through Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.
Location: Over 100 communities across Canada
Date: May to October 2009
Charity: 100% of the funds you raise go directly to the work of training and providing Dog Guides
Get more info: www.dogguides.com or
www.purinawalkfordogguides.com Event: Relay for Life Gather a team of 10 friends and family members and take turns walking on a track for 12 hours, from dusk until dawn. Cancer survivors from the community walk the first lap of the track, which is decorated with special bags containing lit candles and the names of those who have survived or passed away from the disease.
Location: Hundreds of communities across Canada
Date: Various weekends from March to October
Charity: Canadian Cancer Society, to fund cancer research and community services
Get more info: www.cancer.ca Event: Heel 'n' Wheel-a-thon The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada's largest national fundraising event. Participants can walk, run, inline skate or bike the 5K route – anything that uses heels or wheels!
Location: Communities across Canada
Date: Various Saturdays and Sundays in June 2009
Charity: The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada
Get more info: www.cfcc.ca Event: Walk for Life This nationwide event takes place in almost every region of Canada, from rural towns and aboriginal communities to the largest cities. Each walk is locally organized and has a unique character that reflects the community. All funds raised through the event stay within each community.
Location: communities across Canada
Date: Various days in September
Charity: Canadian AIDS Society
Get more info: www.walkforlife.ca
British Columbia
Event: BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver International Marathon Walk the full- or half-marathon of this mostly flat paved course, which starts at B.C. Place Stadium and winds through historic Gastown, into beautiful Stanley Park.
Location: Vancouver
Date: May 4, 2008
Charities: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and Yukon
Get more info: www.vanmarathon.ca Event: 16th Annual Whistler Valley Trail Run Enjoy spectacular mountain views along Whistler's famous Valley and raise money for the community at the same time.
Location: Whistler, BC
Date: May 27th, 2007
Charity: The Community Foundation of Whistler, an independent organization dedicated to improving the quality of community life inthe Sea to Sky Corridor.
Get more info: www.whistlervalleytrailrun.org Event: Scotiabank Vancouver Half-marathon and 5K Walk/Run This half-marathon takes walkers along one of the most scenic routes in Canada – from the University of British Columbia campus, along the Pacific Ocean shoreline to historic Stanley Park.
Location: Vancouver
Date: June 22, 2008
Charity: Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital Foundation, in support of your choice of 23 hospital initiatives.
Get more info: www.canadarunningseries.cmo/svhm The Weekend to End Breast Cancer Gather a team of women for this 60K walk to raise money for breast cancer research.
Location: Vancouver
Date: August 17 to 19, 2007
Charity: B.C. Cancer Foundation
Get more info: www.endcancer.ca Event: Okanagan International Marathon This course begins and ends in Kelowna's City Park and, ironically, despite the mountain setting, it is considered one of the flattest in Canada.
Location: Kelowna, B.C.
Date: October 7, 2007
Charity: The B.C. Interior Chapter of the Sunshine Dreams for Kids, which helps provide opportunities for children with life-threatening diseases or physical disabilities
Get more info: www.events.runningroom.com Event: 28th Annual Royal Victoria Marathon Considered one of the top 10 destination marathons in North America by Runner's World magazine, this course is also open to those who wish to walk the 8K Road Race or half-marathon.
Location: Victoria
Date: October 7, 2007
Charities: KidSport Fund and Runners of Compassion
Get more info: www.royalvictoriamarathon.com Alberta
Event: Trek-a-thon Walk, run or bike 5-30K at our family-friendly event in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Help raise money to send youth on international missions. There will be door prizes, entertainment and a BBQ lunch.
Location: Calgary
Date: June 2, 2007
Charity: Venture Teams International
Get more info: www.vti.ca Event: Father's Day 5K Run, 2.5K Run/Walk This fun run is followed by a family picnic with children's entertainment.
Location: Calgary and Edmonton
Date: June 17, 2007
Charity: Prostate Cancer Research
Get more info: www.fathersdayrun.ca Event: HSBC Calgary Marathon Take part in a 10K, half-marathon or marathon walk in the longest-running marathon in Canada, celebrating its 43rd anniversary this year.
Location: Calgary
Date: July 8, 2007
Charity: YMCA Calgary Strong Kids Campaign
Get more info: www.calgarymarathon.com The Weekend to End Breast Cancer Gather a team of women for this 60K walk to raise money for breast cancer research.
Location: Calgary and Edmonton
Date: Calgary July 27 to 29; Edmonton August 10 to 12
Charity: Alberta Cancer Foundation
Get more info: www.endcancer.ca Event: ING Edmonton Marathon Raise money for your favourite charity in this marathon, half-marathon, 5K or 10K walk through Edmonton's scenic River Valley and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Location: Edmonton
Date: August 11-12, 2007
Charities: The charity of your choice
Get more info: www.events.runningroom.com Saskatchewan
Event: The 29th Annual Saskatchewan Marathon A 10K, half-marathon or full-marathon walk along the South Saskatchewan River.
Location: Saskatoon
Date: May 27, 2007
Charity: Kip Keino High School Project in Kenya
Get more info: www.active.com Event: Walk to Cure Diabetes Join 45,000 people across Canada in the fastest-growing walking event in the world.
Location: Saskatoon and Regina
Date: Saskatoon, May 27, 2007; Regina, June 11, 2007
Charity: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada
Get more info: www.jdrf.ca Manitoba
Event: Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon This marathon course was designed with two start and finish lines, which allows participants to cheer each other on during the race.
Location: Winnipeg
Date: April 29, 2007
Charity: All proceeds will be given to the Canadian Cancer Society, via the Cops for Cancer and the Winnipeg Chapter of Iron Cops
Get more info: www.events.runningroom.com Event: Walk to Cure Diabetes Join 45,000 people across Canada in the fastest growing walking event in the world.
Location: Brandon, Winnipeg
Date: May 27, 2007
Charity: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada
Get more info: www.jdrf.ca The Weekend to End Breast Cancer Gather a team of women for this 60K walk to raise money for breast cancer research.
Location: Winnipeg
Date: June 6 to 8, 2008
Charity: Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation
Get more info: www.endcancer.ca Event: Manitoba Marathon Choose from one of six start locations depending on your fitness level at the 30th running of the Manitoba Marathon. The Free Press 10K walk heads out along the first 5K of the marathon course and turns around at scenic Crescent Park.
Location: Winnipeg
Date: Father's Day – June 15, 2008
Charity: Manitobans living with an intellectual disability
Get more info: www.manitobamarathon.mb.ca Event: Ron Melnichuk Half Marathon & 5K Founded in honour of athlete and coach Ron Melnichuk, runners and walkers take part in a half-marathon or 5K walk through Birds Hill Provincial Park – one of the most beautiful parks in the province.
Location: Winnipeg
Date: August 19, 2007
Charity: The Ron Melnichuk Scholarship Fund, which assists young athletes with training expenses and travel.
Get more info: www.events.runningroom.com Ontario
Event: Run for Retina Research Take part in the Ford Keast Half-Marathon Power Walk to support retina research.
Location: London
Date: April 15, 2007
Charity: Proceeds support retina research at the Ivey Eye Institute in London
Get more info: www.runforretina.ca Event: Father's Day 5K Run and 2.5K Run/Walk Location: Toronto
Date: June 17, 2007
Charity: Prostate cancer research
Get more info: www.fathersdayrun.ca Event: Rebecca Run for SMA This 3K walk/5K run is named for four-year-old Rebecca Grace van Fraassen, who has spinal muscular atrophy, which is the number one genetic killer of children under one.
Location: Newmarket
Date: July 7, 2007
Charity: Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Canada, to raise awareness and fund research
Get more info: www.rebeccarun.com The Weekend to End Breast Cancer Gather a team of women for this 60K walk to raise money for breast cancer research.
Location: Ottawa and Toronto
Date: June 6 to 8, 2008 and Spetember 7 to 9, 2007
Charity: Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and the Princess Margaret Hospital
Get more info: www.endcancer.ca Event: Niagara Falls International Marathon The event's half-marathon walk follows the beautiful Niagara River Parkway and finishes above magnificent Niagara Falls.
Location: Niagara Falls
Date: October 28, 2007
Charity: Choose from four charities: Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, The Arthritis Society, Huntington Society of Canada or Achilles Track Club Canada
Get more info: www.events.runningroom.com Atlantic Canada
Event: Fredericton Marathon This 29th-annual event takes participants along the scenic "rails-to-trails" network of Fredericton, following both the Saint John and Nashwaak rivers.
Location: Fredericton, N.B.
Date: May 13, 2007
Charity: York-Sunbury Search & Rescue and Safe Grad 2006
Get more info: www.frederictonmarathon.ca Event: Blue Nose International Marathon Walk the Rogers Wireless 5K, or the half- or full-marathon through Halifax and Dartmouth, past historic points of interest such as the Town Clock, over the Halifax harbour and Point Pleasant Park.
Location: Halifax, N.S.
Date: May 16 to 18, 2008
Charity: YMCA
Get more info: www.BlueNoseMarathon.com Event: Walk to Cure Diabetes Join 45,000 people across Canada in the fastest growing walking event in the world.
Locations: Pictou N.S.; Campobello Island, N.B.
Date: N.S. September 30, 2007; N.B. July 7, 2007
Charity: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada
Get more info: www.jdrf.ca Event: Father's Day 5K Run or 2.5K Run/Walk A family picnic with children's entertainment follows.
Location: Halifax, N.S. and Saint John, N.B.
Date: Father's Day – June 17, 2007
Charity: Prostate cancer research
Get more info: www.fathersdayrun.ca Event: Marathon by the Sea Join 1,500 runners and walk 5K, a half- or full-marathon while enjoying excellent views of the city waterfront and harbour and the Bay of Fundy.
Location: Saint John, N.B.
Date: September 23, 2007
Charity: P.R.O. Kids, which offers placements in art, sporting or cultural activities to disadvantaged youth in Saint John and surrounding areas.
Get more info: www.marathonbythesea.com Quebec
Event: Super Cities Walk for MS Walk 5K, 10K or 15K in this non-competitive event and raise funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. The disease affects 50,000 Canadians, mostly women.
Location: 19 cities across Quebec
Date: April 29, June 3 and September 9, 2007
Charity: Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Get more info: www.mssociety.ca Event: Relay for Life Gather a team of 10 friends and family members and take turns walking on a track for 12 hours, from dusk until dawn. Cancer survivors from the community walk the first lap of the track, which is decorated with special bags containing lit candles and the names of those who have survived or passed away from the disease.
Location: Communities across Quebec
Date: Various weekends throughout May and June
Charity: Canadian Cancer Society, to fund cancer research and community services
Get more info: www.cancer.ca The Weekend to End Breast Cancer Gather a team of women for this 60K walk to raise money for breast cancer research.
Location: Montreal
Date: August 24 to 26, 2007
Charity: Jewish General Hospital Segal Cancer Centre
Get more info: www.endcancer.ca