Front of the pack: These Race for Wildlife participants are fundraising their way to the finish line

WWF Canada

Registration for WWF’s Race for Wildlife is now open, which means that training and fundraising efforts are already underway in advance of the September 22 – 24 event.  

So, we caught up with some of this year’s early top fundraisers to hear more about what is motivating them to go the distance for wildlife and find out how they plan on hitting their fundraising goals before the race.  

Young boy holds up a handmade "Race for Wildlife" sign
Henry, age 7, poses with his stuffies © Bora Moon

Henry Tsang, who plans on completing a five-kilometre course with his family in Burnaby, B.C., says, “I don’t like running. But I do it for the animals! I am racing for all the animals, especially foxes and bumblebees!”  

Henry has already raised over $500 for wildlife with this fundraising trick: “I have tips for kids! Write a short letter and post it up online (ask mommy) so people can read about you and why you want to run. The letter doesn’t have to be so long! So don’t be stressed about it.”  

Woman standing in a grassy field beside her dog.
Áine and her border collie © Áine O’Hare

Áine O’Hare is participating in WWF’s Race for Wildlife for the second year in a row from Halifax, N.S. “I’ve never been able to do the CN Tower climb, but this event gives me the chance to participate from the region where I live! Plus, I have a border collie, so she is always happy to go for a long run.”  

Áine is passionate about participating because, “like many of us, climate change is at the forefront of my mind. But I also think a lot about the importance of habitat conservation.”  

To raise funds for the causes that matter to her, Áine shares that “personalizing your fundraising page goes a long way towards making the event — and the big ideas behind it — more personal to others. It also makes it more personal to you, which is its own kind of motivation.” 

Woman holding a brown dog in her arms.
Alex and Bailey © Alex Cree

Alex Cree was inspired to register for WWF’s Race for Wildlife, “to show the peers around me that everyone can help the wildlife! I also wanted to help remind myself that I, too, can help in ways that I find more enjoyable. I love being active outside so when I heard about this race, I was super excited to have another reason to be in nature!” 

Alex, who will be running a 10-kilometre race around the Stanley Park seawall, says, “the one fundraising tip I have is to share with your family! My family has been very supportive of me, while donating themselves and telling other people. I also shared my page with role models in my life (a teacher of mine, as an example) to show the type of person I want to become!” 

Feeling inspired? Register now and start setting your own fundraising goals!  

WWF’s Race for Wildlife is a family-friendly event where you can go the distance for wildlife at your own pace from anywhere in Canada. Your route, and how you race, is up to you: run, walk, wheel or skip a 5K, 10K or 21K course — or race any distance of your choice. 

The funds you raise will support Regenerate Canada, WWF-Canada’s 10-year plan to restore at least one million hectares of degraded habitat and steward at least 100 million hectares of ecologically rich ecosystems.