This run is about bringing people together, and supporting our fellow Canadians. To accomplish this, 205 Marathons is providing support to 5 different charities who all do incredible work. The organizations are listed below in no particular order, and I have provided personal statements as to why I think it is important that we support these charities. Donations can be made through Race Roster.
Jack.org
Right now, there is an incredibly important shift happening regarding how we view mental illness. As something that has been stigmatized and used to unfairly classify individuals, it's beyond time that we fully respect and support those who suffer from it. Mental illness can affect anyone, and is often not easy to detect. As something that can drastically reduce the quality of life, or even cause the end of life, it is time we support mental health just as much as physical health. Since 2010, Jack.org has been committed to fundamentally changing how we think and talk about mental health in Canada. You can read more about the incredible steps they have taken to spread mental health awareness and support on their website. |
The Actors' Fund of Canada (The AFC)
Throughout the past year, it has been easy to forget about the entertainment industry. Deemed inessential and unsafe, jobs for artists have been scarce during the pandemic, requiring artists to find temporary work outside of their field or apply for emergency funding provided by organizations such as the Actor's Fund of Canada (The AFC). However, even before the pandemic, it was difficult to make a living as an artist: often a form of contract work requiring very highly skilled individuals (almost no artists are born with the skills that they currently have - thousands of dollars are often invested in lessons, schooling, or workshops), the lives of artists can be inaccurately glorified. Realistically, funding is difficult to find and leaves those in the entertainment industry relying on families, friends, or organizations like the AFC for help. |
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada)
We live in a very human-oriented world - which completely makes sense, considering we are human and prioritize our own needs and wants. However, it can be really easy to forget about those who aren't human: like animals, plants, and various other classifications of living organisms that we interact with almost every day. These organisms cannot speak for themselves, and require our personal initiative to protect them. We have already begun to see a tragic loss of diversity that puts systems we take for granted - like the food supply chain and disease control - at risk. Our species has also disrupted the environment, leading to the huge, complex and long-term issue of climate change. Every ounce of support we put into the conservation of our environment is important, and can be done by funding organizations like WCS Canada.
We live in a very human-oriented world - which completely makes sense, considering we are human and prioritize our own needs and wants. However, it can be really easy to forget about those who aren't human: like animals, plants, and various other classifications of living organisms that we interact with almost every day. These organisms cannot speak for themselves, and require our personal initiative to protect them. We have already begun to see a tragic loss of diversity that puts systems we take for granted - like the food supply chain and disease control - at risk. Our species has also disrupted the environment, leading to the huge, complex and long-term issue of climate change. Every ounce of support we put into the conservation of our environment is important, and can be done by funding organizations like WCS Canada.
True North Aid
Healthcare in Canada is often celebrated. As a wealthy country, most of us also have access to fresh, nutritious food and clean water that I know I often take for granted. However, this is not the case for all of Canada, especially in the Canadian north and our Indigenous communities. Many of our fellow citizens up north face challenges such as inadequate housing, food insecurity, and access to medical experts and hospital equipment. True North Aid endeavours to provide support to our northern Canadian community in all of these aspects and more. |
Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH)
It's easy to take having a home for granted. It provides us with many comforts, including shelter, privacy, and a place to store our possessions and prepare food. But what if you don't have one? It's hard to imagine the loss of dignity and the path to becoming homeless, which is often stigmatized and poorly understood. If you have never had to experience it, it's also hard to imagine living on the streets, especially in the Canadian winter - a time when many of us don't even want to change out of our pyjamas. Nobody should have to be without a home in Canada, and CAEH is leading a movement to make this happen. |