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Endurance Tap Changemakers combine their passion for endurance sports with their personal passion for organizations that better the planet and their communities.
This program is a collaboration between Endurance Tap and these incredible individuals and groups, working together to raise awareness and funds for their chosen non-profit.
We'll provide updates throughout the year with deeper profiles on each Changemaker, so check back often!
Supporting the Planet & Community
Where to begin? When Gary isn’t busy directing races, coaching, training, or growing his beard, he’s normally found winning an ultra. A three time participant in the Barkley Marathons, Gary’s love for endurance sport knows no bounds. Gary has facilitated charitable donations totalling over $80,000 in 2020 via his events, benefitting trail protection organizations, search and rescue, BIPOC runners and LGBTQ2+ runners. As part Changemakers, he's raising funds for BC SAR who represent the invaluable, recognized un-paid professional ground search and rescue community.
Building Confidence in Teenage Girls
After spending decades in a cycle of self-depreciation and inactivity, Kim discovered how strong, capable, and limitless she is through a series of adventures in the wild. After asking herself “What if all girls knew what she knew now, at 42, when they were in their adolescence? That they are capable of all things. That they are so so so good enough. That they are great exactly as they are”, Kim founded a non-profit called Girl In The Wild, which offers free confidence building camps for teenage girls in wild spaces.
Supporting Mental Health
Who doesn’t have a story about “accidently” winning a 50k trail race? Well, Jacob has one of those stories, and many more that involve winning races and throwing down course records. When Jacob isn’t coaching, race directing, or running, he’s supporting Bigger Than The Trail, an organization that is using trail running as a platform to advocate for mental health. Their mission is to enrich the lives of individuals struggling with mental health.
Mile2Marathon aims to provide unparalleled coaching services and training communities to runners and endurance athletes of all abilities.
"We are excited to take part in the Endurance Tap Changemaker program and are proud to support Indspire as our charity of choice. As Indspire highlights on their website: they are an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada." Learn more about Indspire here.
Battling Climate Change
A Brooklyn-based digital strategist living in Brooklyn, New York. Nicole has been competing in triathlons since 2015. Since then, she’s placed nationally and has worked with other great brands, like Tracksmith and Adidas, and has been featured in Monocle and Huffington Post. In addition to freelancing and racing, Nicole is getting her Master of Arts from Columbia University in Climate Change and Public Policy, with an end goal of understanding how we can approach solving the climate crisis on a global scale, working to unite the private and public sectors through public policy. Nicole also supports the enduring, innovative Sierra Club.
Protecting Public Trail Systems
Fun fact, despite being North America’s 4th largest city, Toronto has an extensive network of ravines and single track trails. The Don Valley is the largest of the ravines and Sean spends a lot of time running these trails. Noticing an ongoing issue of garbage and litter being dumped in the ravine, Sean co-founded Don’t Mess with the Don to help keep this important trail network clean.
Supporting the Planet & Her Community
The founder and coach of Girls Run NYC, an artist, licensed art therapist, and a wellness professional, Jessie has no shortage of activities to keep her busy! Despite the busy schedule, Jesse supports a variety of climate and community-building organizations in NYC.
Building Community Through Cycling
Toronto Hustle is reshaping the way professional cycling is developed, delivered and sustained through grassroots community building. With a focus on developing Canada’s next generation of cycling talent, pushing for safer streets, getting more people on bikes and growing the women’s cycling community, Toronto Hustle has made a significant impact in the cycling community on and off the bike.
For Changemakers, Hustle is working Charlie’s Freewheels, an org that uses bicycles to support the development of empowered young leaders, and self-assured young cyclists. They do this by improving youth access to bicycles, facilitating bicycle-related skill development, and inspiring youth to ride with confidence.
Supporting Mental Health
When she’s not out training in Scarborough, Ontario, Denoja is posting content on her active Instagram account that both tells her story, inspires others, and raises awareness about mental health. Denoja will be supporting the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Supporting Land Trust Conservation
Being raised amidst the beauty of Newfoundland, and trail running as long as she can remember, Kelsey feels a deep connection to the natural spaces around her. Having lived in several different provinces in Atlantic Canada, Kelsey is passionate about conservation and supports a variety of land trusts including the Nature Trust of New Brunswick.
Planning & Protecting Public Lands
Living in the extraordinary beauty of the Yukon Territory, Shailyn works as a Fish and Wildlife Planner by day, and is out on the land as much as possible when she’s not working. Shailyn has a fantastic Instagram account that gives us a glimpse into her world. Knowing how fragile these subarctic and arctic ecosystems are, Shailyn also supports the Yukon chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-Yukon).
Supporting Mental Health
Originally from the UK, Daniel lives in Toronto and has a long history of fundraising for causes that are important to him. A passionate athlete and community builder, Daniel will be supporting jack.org, an amazing organization that’s empowering young leaders to revolutionize mental health through talks, chapters, and summits.
Supporting Women's Health
Hailing from down-under in Australia, but currently residing in Toronto, Amanda is the founder of Chix Run The 6ix, a running community to support women running. Amanda is also supporting Twelve Donations, an organization that supports women's health specifically in the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.
Inspiring the Type 1 Diabetes Community
Living in Wasaga Beach, Ontario, a beautiful part of the province that’s ideal for outdoor activities, Elizabeth stays active with a wide variety of sports. After a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes, Elizabeth was encouraged not to partake in sports for fear of having challenges with her blood sugar. Fast-forward to today, and Elizabeth is now both very active herself, and she supports I Challenge Diabetes and dedicates her time to helping others with Type 1 Diabetes become more active.
Promoting Youth Participation in Endurance Sports
What were you doing when you were 13 years old? In Gavin's case he’s running 50 milers and 24hr races, taking care of his school work, and in between, he’s supporting the Rising New York Road Runners! RNYRR puts on free youth running races throughout the five boroughs and provides gym programming for schools across the country.
Supporting Youth Through Literacy & Physical Activity
When he’s not busy running his coaching company, Marathon Dynamics, or throwing down a podium finish in a masters race, Kevin can be found cross-training, spending time with his wife and son, and juggling! Kevin will be working to support Start2Finish - an afterschool running & reading club program that helps make the dream of graduation a reality among children experiencing poverty/deprivation in the communities it services across Canada.