Scotiabank Charity Challenge charities invited to draft runners for a chance to win money

OTTAWA, May 11, 2018 /CNW/ - The 2018 Ottawa 10K is introducing a unique team format that will give 16 elite runners the opportunity to compete for a prize purse of over $60,000, while supporting local charities.

Four Scotiabank Charity Challenge charities - The Ottawa Hospital, Canadian Cancer Society, Camp Misquah and Make a Wish of Eastern Ontario - have been invited to take part in this one-of-a-kind 10K Dream Team Challenge. These charities were chosen based on their fundraising efforts in 2017, in addition to a random draw.

Each charity will pick teams of four elite runners (selected from a list of 14 pre-determined gold-label elites and the full list of registered elites) who will run to win prize money for themselves and for their charity.  The four charities can win up to $3,000 based on their team's performance.

"We are always looking for unique ways to promote the sport," says Manny Rodrigues, Elite Athlete Coordinator, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. "We hope that this draft and team format will encourage people to learn more about the world's best runners that will be racing here. For the runners it's an exciting opportunity to compete as part of a team."

In addition to receiving prize money based on their finishing position, the winning team will also be awarded $2,000 to be split evenly among all members. The teams will be scored based on their finishing position against the other teams, regardless of gender.

And to make it even more competitive, athletes will also receive prize money based on when they get drafted. For example, the first draft pick will receive $4,000, the second draft pick $3,000, down to $500.

"The organizers of the Ottawa 10K have created a unique opportunity to connect the Scotiabank Charity Challenge with their IAAF gold-label elite program," said Frank Bilodeau, District Vice-President, Ottawa Centre & Gatineau. "Our goal has always been to help create a better life for people in the communities we serve. Through this unique team format and the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, we are proud to support the community of Ottawa and area."

In addition to being an IAAF sanctioned gold-label event, the Ottawa 10K also welcomes Canada's best road racers as the host of the Canadian 10K championships.

How to watch

The 10K Dream Team Challenge draft will take place Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00 a.m. on Facebook Live.

The IAAF gold-label Ottawa 10K will take place Saturday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. The event will be tweeted live @ottawamarathon, and broadcast live at www.runottawa.ca and on Rogers-TV in Ottawa.

Related information

Awards and prizes
Elites participating in the 10K Dream Team Challenge
10-to-watch at the 2018 Ottawa 10K
Full 2018 Ottawa 10K Start List
10K Dream Team - Rules
10K Canadian Championships Start List Announced

About the Scotiabank Charity Challenge
The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a turnkey fundraising program that provides a simple way for runners in these races to support local causes that make a significant impact on Canadian communities. Participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all transaction and credit card fees. Scotiabank offers the Scotiabank Charity Challenge at six sponsored marathon events across Canada including Montréal, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.

About Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

The 2018 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will take place May 26-27 and will welcome participants in six races, including the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, the Scotiabank Half Marathon, the Ottawa 10K, the HTG Sports 5K, the Aquahaulics Ottawa 2K and Scotiabank Ottawa Kids Marathon. In 2017, runners raised $826,175 for local and national charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge.

The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is one of only two running events in the world to host two IAAF Gold Label races: the Ottawa 10K and the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon. For more information or to register: www.runottawa.ca.

About Scotiabank
At Scotiabank, we aim to support organizations that are committed to helping young people reach their infinite potential. Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank's goal is to help ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success. Together with our employees, the Bank supports causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2017, Scotiabank contributed more than $80 million to help our communities around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 24 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 89,000 employees and assets of over $923 billion (as at January 31, 2018), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @Scotiabank.

SOURCE Scotiabank