Run Ottawa and Desjardins announce the winners of the 2025 Desjardins Charity Challenge

Ottawa, February 17, 2026  — The 2025 Desjardins Charity Challenge once again inspired Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend participants to go the distance for a cause, raising funds for local and national charities while taking part in Canada’s biggest running weekend.

Last year over 80 local and national charities took part in the Desjardins Charity Challenge raising $969,602.02 for community-based initiatives across the country. For the first time in its history, the Desjardins Charity Challenge welcomed three local Indigenous charities, Indigenous Friends Association, Wabano Centre for Indigenous Health, and Indspire. Since its inception in 2015, the Desjardins Charity Challenge has raised more than $9.5 million to support vital programs and services in the National Capital Region and beyond.

The 2025 winners were announced at the official launch of the 2026 Desjardins Charity Challenge, which took place at 1173 Cyrville Road, Desjardin’s Ottawa-Cyrville branch. 

 

 

Funds raised through the Desjardins Charity Challenge help participating charities qualify for one of nine cash prizes presented by Desjardins, totalling more than $25,000 in additional support.

 

Here are the winners of 2025:

Largest Total Raised:

  • 1st prize, $4,250: Canadians Sharing Locally and Globally
  • 2nd prize, $2,500: CHEO Foundation
  • 3rd prize, $1,500: University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation

Largest Number of Fundraisers (Minimum raised $50/participant to be eligible):

  • 1st prize, $4,250: Ottawa Hospital Foundation
  • 2nd prize, $2,500: Perley Health Foundation
  • 3rd prize, $1,500: Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa

Team Challenge – highest average dollar raised per team (minimum 5 team members and members must be independently created from charity): 

  • 1st prize, $4,250: Canadian Cancer Society – In Memory of Jim Weiler Team
  • 2nd prize, $2,500: Options Housing Incorporated – Conway Litigation Runs for Options Team
  • 3rd prize, $1,500: L’Arche – Day Program Team

 

Thank you to Desjardins Ontario Credit Union for their generous support of the Charity Challenge. Registration for the 2026 Desjardins Charity Challenge at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is open now, start fundraising today and make every kilometre count in the lives of the people and animals in your community.

 

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 Tartan Ottawa International Marathon, Ottawa Half Marathon presented by Desjardins, Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa, Ottawa 5K and 2K presented by Runkeeper, 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.

Media relations contact:
Lisa Georges
lisa.georges@runottawa.ca