Run Ottawa Announces 2026 Desjardins Charity Challenge Winners
Ottawa, ON – August 31, 2026 — Run Ottawa is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Desjardins Charity Challenge, following an extraordinary fundraising effort by participants of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.
2026 Desjardins Charity Challenge Winners
The Desjardins Charity Challenge awards cash prizes to charities that excel in total fundraising, recruiting fundraising runners and team fundraising. These categories recognize charities whose supporters went above and beyond in their fundraising efforts. Each first-place winner receives a $4,250 cash prize.
Largest Total Dollars Raised
The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
Largest Number of Fundraising Runners
CHEO Foundation
Team Challenge – Highest Average Raised per Fundraiser
Conway Litigation Runs for Abdalla – York University
All told, 2026 runners and their supporters raised an impressive $899,765.28 for over 80 participating charities, helping fund vital programs and services in communities across Ottawa and beyond. Since its inception in 2015, the initiative has helped raise more than $10 million.
“Every year, we’re inspired by the generosity of our running community,” said Mike Vieira, Executive Director of Run Ottawa. “This year’s winners stood out for the incredible energy they brought to their fundraising efforts, and we’re delighted to recognize their achievements.”
“We believe that some of the most meaningful change happens when people have the opportunity to turn their personal passions into positive impact,” said Francine Côté, Chair, Desjardins Ontario Credit Union. “The Desjardins Charity Challenge does exactly that. We’re proud to support a program that connects healthy, active living with giving back. That’s investing in what matters.”
“The generosity of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend participants and enthusiasm of fundraisers makes a real difference to organizations like The Ottawa Hospital Foundation,” said Graham Thompson, Director of Philanthropy at The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. “Being the top fundraising charity speaks to the importance of The Ottawa Hospital to the local community, our patients and their families. This is a wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared purpose.”
The Desjardins Charity Challenge is a community-building component of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, enabling registered participants to fundraise for official charity partners while taking part in Canada’s largest multi-day running event.
About Desjardins Ontario Credit Union
Desjardins Ontario Credit Union is part of Canada’s largest cooperative financial group and has been doing business in Ontario for over 100 years. Desjardins Ontario Credit Union provides a full range of banking services for everyone and every need. Thanks to its cooperative nature and financial strength, it shares a portion of its surplus earnings with its members. In 2024, the credit union awarded $14.4 million in community and individual member dividends and contributions to hundreds of projects in Ontario.
About Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is Canada’s largest running and walking festival with six races, including the Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon, Ottawa Half Marathon presented by Desjardins, Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa, Ottawa 5K, Ottawa 2K, and Ottawa Kids Marathon, as well as three multi-event challenges. Since its inception in 2015, the Desjardins Charity Challenge has raised more than $9.5 million for local and national charities through the Desjardins Charity Challenge.
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is the only running event in Canada to host a World Athletics Elite label marathon and is host to Athletics Canada’s Canadian 10K Championships. The weekend was named Event of the Year at the 2019 Canadian Tourism Awards. In 2020, its title sponsor Tamarack Homes won Sport Tourism Canada’s Canadian Sport Event Sponsorship Initiative of the Year Award.
For more information or to arrange interviews with Mike Vieira, Desjardins or the winning charities, please email Karie Ford at media@runottawa.ca.