MONTREAL, QC - April 02, 2015 /CNW/ - Over 5,000 runners will celebrate the true arrival of Spring at Parc Jean-Drapeau on April 26 for the 10^th annual Course Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5km. All participants will have the opportunity to run for a good cause -- 67 good causes to be exact -- as 65 local community charities will benefit from the annual Scotiabank Charity Challenge.

"The race is known as a favourite for runners who can enjoy a beautiful, scenic course while giving back to the community," said Carole Chapdelaine, Scotiabank Senior Vice President, Quebec and Eastern Ontario Region. "The Scotiabank Charity Challenge brings an important component to this road race and I want to thank and congratulate the runners who are also fundraisers taking on a double challenge on that day. For Scotiabank, giving back to our community is core to who we are and through this activity, we can make a significant impact. Participants raised over $850,000 last year and expect to do even better this year!"

In addition to being a favorite of amateur runners, the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k attracts elite-level runners to Montreal. "It's always a nail-biting finish in Montreal as Spring conditions near the river can impact runners," explained Francois Lecot, the event's Race Director. "Whatever the conditions, runners know they will have supporters throughout the race to cheer and encourage them to give their very best."

Through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, participating charities keep 100% of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all transaction and credit card fees.

This year's featured charities include:

• Giant Steps School/À pas de géant 
  Founded in 1981, Giant Steps School has created a unique learning environment for Montreal students on the Autism Spectrum. Their goal since inception has been to enable the greatest number of autistic children to reach their full potential and achieve independence in our society.
• Fondation de l'Hôpital Sainte-Justine 
  Created in 1987 when the Fondation Justine-Lacoste-Beaubien and Fondation Sainte-Justine joined forces, the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation is dedicated to providing children and mothers-to-be with a standard of care that is among the very best in the world.
• Fondation Les petits trésors 
  For over 30 years, the Fondation Les petits trésors of Rivière-des-Prairies Hospital focus its activities on the mental health of Quebec children and teenagers. It is estimated that about 250,000 children and teenagers suffer from mental illnesses, which represents more than one child out of five!

Part of the Challenge is a friendly competition between the charities for $25,000 in cash prizes consisting of $4,000 for 1^st place, $2,500 for 2^nd, and $1,500 for 3^rd in the following categories:

• The  Official Charity that has the most fundraising runners.
• The  Official Charity that raises the most fundraising dollars.
• The  Official Charity that raises the largest amount of pledge dollars per  fundraising runner.
• An  additional $1,000 for the Official Charity of the Fundraising Runner with  the largest total dollars fundraised.

Pledge: Participants can visit http://canadarunningseries.com/monthalf_en/ to sign up for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and raise funds for a local community charity, pledge or join a charity team. Click on the Charity Info section on the website.

Cheer: Support your friends and family along the race route and as they cross the finish line. Start times are 8:30 a.m. for the 5k race and 10:00 a.m. for the 21k race. The start of the 21k is near the Parterre on Ste-Helene Island of Parc Jean-Drapeau. The start of the 5k is near the metro station on Ste-Helene Island. For race maps, go to:http://canadarunningseries.com/monthalf_en/montDET.htm

About Scotiabank:
Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and parts of Asia. Through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has contributed on average $50 million annually over the last five years to community causes around the world. Scotiabank distributes the Bank's media releases using CNW. For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankNews.

About Canada Running Series:
Canada Running Series [CRS] is the nation's premier running circuit with 8 events: 4 in Toronto, 3 in Vancouver and 1 in Montreal. It annually attracts some 60,000 participants and raises more than $5 million for some 250 mostly-local charities. The Series includes the IAAF Silver Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Athletics Canada National 10K and Half Marathon Championships. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization. It is strongly committed to staging great experiences for runners of all levels from Canadian Olympians and International stars, to healthy lifestyle people and charity runners, and to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process.