Toronto, ON, May 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This month and next, kids across Canada will hit the ground running for Kids’ Run for Nature, a series of 1 km, 3 km and 5 km fun runs and fundraising events in support of World Wildlife Fund Canada.
The community event was founded in 2015 by Jasmine de Pencier and Jett Jardeleza-Toole, kids then aged 10 and determined to protect Canada’s nature and wildlife. Since then, it has grown to include 20 runs from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, and raised nearly $100,000 for WWF-Canada’s conservation programs. To date, 2,500 participants have come out in support of the event, and this year it hopes to engage over 2,000 runners and raise an additional $80,000.
Each run is led by a passionate local volunteer co-ordinator or volunteer co-ordinator family. With the support of WWF-Canada, these local conservation champions encourage kids and families in their communities to join the run, fundraise and take a stand for conservation efforts that are protecting our country’s incredible species – from West Coast orcas to narwhals in the Arctic, monarch butterflies in southern Canada and mighty North Atlantic right whales off the East Coast.
WHEN & WHERE
Sunday, May 27
Town Agricultural Park, Port Hope, Ont.
Sunday, June 3
Beachway Park, Burlington, Ont.
Mill Pond Park, Richmond Hill, Ont.
St. Andrew’s College, Aurora, Ont.
Monday, June 4
Branksome Hall, Toronto
Sunday, June 10
Withrow Park, Toronto (flagship run)
Bronte Heritage Park, Oakville, Ont.
Columbus Field, Antigonish, N.S.
Auburn Bay Green-Space, Calgary
Skaha Lake Park, Penticton, B.C.
Saturday, June 16
Scanlon Creek Conservation Area, Bradford, Ont.
Burgoyne Woods, St. Catharines, Ont.
Sunday, June 17
Saturday, June 23
Malden Park Visitors Centre, Windsor, Ont.
Richmond Fairgrounds, Richmond, Ont.
Sign up to run: wwf.ca/kidsrun
Get involved:
Individuals of all ages can contribute by participating in a run, donating or volunteering at one of the local events. They can also host a Kids' Run for Nature in their local community. Organizers, teachers and schools interested in hosting their own runs are encouraged to contact Kids’ Run for Nature for more information.
Megan Leslie, president and CEO of WWF-Canada, says:
“It’s so inspiring to watch the evolution of Kids’ Run for Nature. Each year, it reaches even more communities and even more kids who are eager to take part in protecting their environment. The event is such a great way for young Canadians and families to learn more about the diverse nature and wildlife in their own backyards. It’s fantastic that so many young conservationists and volunteer coordinators are committed to protect our planet’s health for generations to come.”
Jasmine de Pencier and Jett Jardeleza-Toole, founders of Kids’ Run for Nature, say:
“We created Kids’ Run for Nature because we care about the Earth and want to get kids and their families involved in our great natural community. We want to support our environment and all the amazing wildlife it holds while being healthy and active."
About Kids Run for Nature
Founded in 2015 by Jasmine de Pencier and Jett Jardeleza-Toole, Kids' Run for Nature is a fun run organized by volunteers, kids and families in support of WWF-Canada's work to protect vulnerable wildlife. For more info visit kidsrunfornature.ca
They can also host a Kids' Run for Nature in their local community. Organizers, teachers and schools interested in hosting their own runs are encouraged to contact Kids’ Run for Nature for more information.
About World Wildlife Fund Canada
WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca
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