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.
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.
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.
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 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.