Scotiabank Charity Challenge aiming to raise $650,000 for a record 60 local charities

VANCOUVER, June 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Whether running the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K to achieve a personal best or participating just for fun, participants can make their run or walk more meaningful to their community by supporting one of the 60 charities registered through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge.  The Scotiabank Charity Challenge will give participants and spectators 60 additional reasons to walk, run or cheer on Sunday, June 24, 2012.

"The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a unique part of this sporting event as it goes beyond the race and raises much-needed funds for local charities," said Rob Wilkins, Vice-President Downtown Vancouver and Northern BC District.  "With thousands of people coming together to run, walk or cheer at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K, our goal is raise $650,000 for organizations that make a difference in the community every day."

Vancouver Canuck Forward and Honourary Scotiabank Charity Challenge Chair, Mason Raymond, will be on site race day to cheer on participants and sign autographs. Through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge as Scotiabank covers all of the transaction fees associated with the fundraising event.

This year's featured charities are:

• Alzheimer's Society of British Columbia
• British Columbia Bereavement Helpline
• Union Gospel Mission

There are 60 registered charities through the Charity Challenge, up from 40 in 2011, and that means 60 reasons to lace up and participate this year. The 2012 registered charities include:

• Adoptive Families Association of BC
• Amnesty International
• Arts Umbrella Association
• Asthma Society of Canada
• BC Cancer Foundation
• BC Children's Hospital Foundation
• BC Lung Association
• BC Paraplegic Association
• BC SPCA
• Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
• Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland
• BlueWave Foundation
• Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC
• Camp Kerry Society
• Canadian Diabetes Association - Team Diabetes
• Canadian Liver Foundation
• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-BC
• Canadian Red Cross
• Canucks Autism Network
• Cassie and Friends
• Center for Epilepsy & Seizure Education
• Children's Hearing and Speech Center of BC
• Children's Heart Network
• Children's Wish Foundation - BC & Yukon
• Coast Mental Health Foundation
• Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada
• Cuso International
• David Suzuki Foundation
• Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation
• Earthsave Canada
• Firefighters Without Borders Canada
• Fragile X research Foundation of Canada
• Gymnastics Canada
• Heart and Stroke Foundation Of Canada
• JIBC Foundation
• Kids Up Front Foundation (Vancouver)
• MS Society of Canada
• MusicFest Vancouver
• Myasthenia Gravis Association of B.C.
• Pacific Assistance Dogs Society
• Pacific Autism Family Centre Foundation
• RainCity Housing and Support Society
• Servants Anonymous Society
• Special Olympics British Columbia
• St. Paul's Hospital Foundation
• Tapestry Foundation for Health Care
• The Arthritis Society - BC & Yukon
• The BC Neurofibromatosis Foundation
• The Canadian Women's Foundation
• The Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation
• The Kettle Friendship Society
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
• The University of British Columbia
• Vancouver Humane Society
• Westcoast Family Centres Society
• Wings of Courage Orphan Outreach Society
• WISH Drop-In Centre Society

Scotiabank Charity Challenge Awards:

• A prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the Official Charity that has the most participants
• A prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the Official Charity that raises the most fundraising dollars
• A prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the Official Charity that raises the largest amount of pledge dollars per participant

Participants can visit http://www.vancouverhalf.com and register to fundraise for a charity, pledge or join a charity team by clicking on the Charity section of the website.

About the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K:

The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K is part of the prestigious Canada Running Series.  As one of Vancouver's premier running events, the SVHM attracts more than 7,000 runners and walkers of all levels, including many elite athletes and visitors to the city.  The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K takes place on Sunday, June 24^th starting at 7:30 a.m. for the Half-Marathon and 9:30 a.m. for the 5K.  Register today at http://www.vancouverhalf.com

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $45 million annually to community causes around the world over the last 5 years. Visit us at  www.scotiabank.com.