Help us raise money

Please join us for a 5 km walk/run as we participate in this year’s Toronto Waterfront Marathon Charity Challenge in October 2025. Islington United Church has participated in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon for 15 consecutive years (!). Captain Dennis Bradley was at the helm of our enthusiastic Running and Walking for Refugees team since the beginning and has continued to lead us as we WALK the WALK for Social Justice. All funds raised will go toward our social justice programming, making a real difference in the lives of so many who need help.

Why is Islington participating?

What is social justice?

Social justice aims to ensure the full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society that is equitable and where all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure.

Source: Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice: A Sourcebook. Edited by Maurianne Adams, Lee Anne Bell, and Pat Griffin. (2007)

Why should I participate?

You can have a direct impact on improving people’s lives by walking for social justice. This year we aim to raise $35,000. With your participation as a walker, sponsor, or donor, we are confident we will reach our goal!

How can I participate?

There are four different ways to participate:

1. Register to walk or run 5 km on October 18 with our team from the church grounds or our downtown team.
2. Register to run a half or full marathon on October 19 downtown.
3. Register to walk or run 5 km on your own, with a friend, or with the team anytime between October 1 and 31. You can cover the 5 km in shorter distances over the month if you prefer.
4. Sponsor an Islington United Church team member(s) by making an online pledge.

   
   

   How does it work?

You start by registering online here. Using this special link to register prompts Race Roster to donate $5 to the Islington United Team.

After you register, you will be given your own fundraising web page. (We can help you with setting this up if you wish.)

Then you approach friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, neighbours, and online contacts to sponsor you. When you share the link to your personal Race Roster page, your sponsors can make a donation online and will automatically receive a tax receipt for donations of $10 or more.

If you have a sponsor who wishes to donate by cash or cheque instead of online, we can assist with that as well.

Is there a cost?

The registration fee is payable online when you register for the 5 km walk or run. If you would like to participate, but the fee is prohibitive, please contact us confidentially at ministry@islingtonunited.org and we will work out the details.

Please register early. Some of the race events are already sold out but there is still time to register for both the in person and virtual 5k event.

What does the fee cover?

The registration fee supports all aspects of the organization of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon event. It does not go to Islington United Church.

In return for your registration fee you will receive 

– 5K Finisher Medal
– ASICS Souvenir Shirt
– Bib (in person participants)*
– Nuun and Gu on course (runners)
– Post-race Recovery Food

*The Impact Bib Program gives participants the choice to receive a race shirt as part of their race day experience. If a participant chooses the Impact Bib option

• a donation will be made to a participating sustainability charity in lieu of a race shirt.
• On race day, your bib will have an Impact Bib sticker on it to celebrate your choice!

At Canada Running Series, we’re always looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact, and we want to provide our participants with that same ability.  By offering the impact bib as a registration option, we allow our participants to choose what they receive as part of their race experience.

More information

More information about the Toronto Waterfront Marathon event is avaiable at www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/event-info/

If you have any questions about the IUC team and participating, please contact Team Captain Dennis Bradley: dennis-bradley@hotmail.com