Social Fundraising Challenges

A new way to fundraise for Heart & Stroke – Join our Challenge community and get active in a way that best suits you. 

What is a Social Fundraising Challenge?

Every five minutes, someone in Canada dies from heart disease, stroke or vascular cognitive impairment. Anyone can join one of our digital activity challenges and raise much-needed funds for Heart & Stroke, while having fun! You can make each challenge your own by choosing one or a variety of activities and by completing your kilometres wherever and whenever works best for you or your team – complete your challenge at your own comfort level. Everyone is encouraged to fundraise, and there is no fee to join!

*Please note Facebook Fundraising Challenge functionality is only available in English at this time. 

Facebook challenges

Connect with other participants by joining the Facebook Challenge group, starting your Facebook Fundraiser, and connecting with us on Messenger, where we will guide you through the challenge experience and provide you with updates and fundraising tips along the way. We can’t wait to see how you reach your goals. 

200 Lap Swim Challenge

Take on the 200 Lap Swim Challenge this August and dive into action for heart health. Whether it’s freestyle, breaststroke, or backstroke—every lap supports those living with heart and vascular conditions.

Sign up today

400 km Motorcycle Ride Challenge

This August, hit the open road for the 400 km Motorcycle Ride Challenge. Feel the wind, embrace the freedom, and ride with purpose. Every kilometer helps fund life-saving research and support.

Sign up today

Why Participate?

Connect with other participants 

Join a community of Heart & Stroke supporters to share your story, offer encouragement and be inspired.

Make an impact 

Every dollar you raise will help us drive life-saving medical breakthroughs, advocate for better health, and bring together the brightest minds to improve diagnosis, care and support.

Get active 

Take on your activity with a friend, team, or solo at your physical comfort level. Choose to take on the same activity daily or mix it up throughout the month.

FAQs

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Find your challenge below for the most relevant information.

Facebook Fundraising Challenges:

  • 200 Lap Swim Challenge
  • 400 km Motorcycle Ride Challenge

  • Who can participate in a Facebook Fundraising Challenge?

    Everyone is welcome! However, you must have a Facebook account to create a challenge fundraiser and then register in Messenger to log activity, create a team, and claim rewards throughout the challenge.


    If you don’t have a Facebook account, we encourage you to join our Run 100K in May Challenge.


    However you choose to participate, have fun and make the challenge your own! Get involved at your own level of physical comfort. We look forward to seeing your progress along the way!


  • Where do I do this challenge?

    Get moving to beat heart disease and stroke from anywhere in Canada to make every beat count.  Participation is flexible and on your terms, so complete your challenge where you want in the way that works best for you. 

  • Do I have to complete this all in one day?

    Our challenges are designed to occur over the course of a month. Refer to your chosen challenge to determine the timeframe for your activity.

  • Can I complete the Challenge as a team?

    Yes! You can absolutely complete the challenge as a team. You will have to track activity individually in Messenger and create your own personal fundraisers.

  • Does someone have to donate through Facebook to my Challenge?

    Yes, they do!


    Unfortunately, we cannot link any donations received outside of Facebook to your challenge fundraiser. You may choose to have your supporter send you the funds directly, and then donate on their behalf to your Facebook fundraiser. If you are the one inputting a donation, Facebook will show the donation was made in your name. We recommend giving your friend a shoutout on your Facebook page by tagging and thanking them for their donation in a comment.

  • Will I receive a tax receipt for my donation?

    Yes, you will receive a tax receipt from Facebook (Meta). If you don't receive one, please contact Facebook Support here.    

  • Is it safe to donate on Facebook?

    Your payment information will be kept private and secure when you donate through Facebook. You can learn more about Facebook security and protection here.

  • How will you use the money that I raise?

    When you donate to Heart & Stroke, you are helping drive our mission to prevent heart disease and stroke, save lives and enhance recovery. Money raised through this challenge will support our research, advocacy and health promotion efforts. We truly appreciate all of your support! 


     

  • If I made a mistake while donating to the Facebook Fundrasing Challenge, how do I get a refund issued?

    If you made the donation through Facebook, you need to reach out to Facebook support. To do so, on your computer, open the form at the link below:


    Refund for a charity donation.


    1. Choose "I donated to a fundraiser".


    2. Choose "Refund for my donation".


    3. Choose the reason you're asking for a refund.


    4. In the drop-down, find the donation you want refunded.


    5. If your donation is not in the drop-down, you'll have to enter the payment ID.*


    6. Type a message about your donation.


    7. Click  "Send".


    After the form has been sent, a ticket will be sent to Facebook's support team. Check your Facebook support Inbox for a response.


    *To complete the form, you may need to find the payment ID for your donation. You can find the payment ID in the in-app confirmation from Meta.

  • I don’t see the question I want to ask here. Who can I contact to ask my question about Facebook Fundraising Challenges?

    Please reach out to our team through Facebook Messenger, and we would be happy to help.

Run 100K in May Challenge

  • How do I register for the run 100K in May Challenge?

    Thank you for choosing to take on the challenge! To register and create your fundraising page, follow the steps found in our registration guide here.


    For more information on how to use your fundraising page check out our video guide. 

  • Is there a registration fee?

    It's completely free to join and participate in any of our challenges – sign up today!

  • I forgot my password or I’m having trouble logging in even though I’m entering the correct password.

    The easiest fix is to request a new password. Simply click here to login, enter your email, and follow the steps to request a password reset. 

  • Why didn't I receive an email confirmation?

    You should receive an automatic email confirmation when you have made a donation or registered for a social fundraising challenge. If you have not, please try the following: 


    1. Check your spam folder to ensure the email wasn't accidentally filtered out. 

    2. Login to your profile and ensure you entered the correct email. 

    3. In your profile, see "My Receipts" in the lefthand menu for a log of all your donations. If your donation/purchase went through, it will be recorded here. 


    If none of the above works, please contact us for assistance at support@crowdchange.co


  • Will donors receive a confirmation email and a tax receipt?

    Yes! When donations are made, the donor will receive a confirmation email and a tax receipt if the donation was over $5.


    Also, as a Challenge participant, you will be able to see a record of your donations made through our website.  When you are logged in, you can click "Profile" and "My Receipts" on the left to view a history of contributions. 


  • I lost my tax receipt or my tax receipt has the wrong information on it. Can you resend it?

    Yes, we can definitely help with this. Please email support@crowdchange.co with the information that you require, and we’ll help you out. Thank you for your donation to Heart & Stroke!

  • Someone I know would prefer to donate with cash or cheque. Is this possible?

    Our easy-to-use online tools are the best way to collect donations. This helps us to keep track of how much you have raised and issue instant tax receipts to donors to avoid any processing times.


    If you receive a cash donation, you can enter your donor details and pay the donation with your credit card. Your donor will receive a thank you and a tax receipt for their donation.   

    If you receive a cheque donation, mail your donations to:


    Heart and Stroke Foundation 

    Attention: Accounts Receivable 

    2300 Yonge St., Suite 1200, 

    Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4 


    Inside the envelope make sure to provide: 

    • Donor Information - First name, last name, full address of the person making the donation. 
    • Your Participant info, if applicable - First name, last name, email.
    • Program name: Social Fundraising Challenges.
    • Amount included in the mailing. 

  • Can I donate on someone else’s behalf?

    If you are donating on someone else’s behalf, make sure you are logged out of your Social Fundraising Challenge account before starting the donation process.


    On the donation form, input the donor’s name, email, and address info as well as your credit card number, expiry and CVC.  This will issue a tax receipt to the donor’s email address and charge your card for the transaction.


  • How do I review details of donations made to my fundraising page?

    To see a full list of donations to your fundraising page, follow this guide on how to access your donations report.

  • What is the purpose of my Participant Centre?

    Your Participant Centre is your gateway for fundraising online! Use your Participant Centre to:

    • Share your story - Customize your personal page, using compelling pictures, text, even video!
    • Shout it from roof tops - Share your page via email. Make it known that you’re helping save lives!
    • Make the first donation a self-donation - lead the way and kick off your fundraising!
    • See your fundraising stats – Keep track of your fundraising and see a list of all of your donors!

  • What is Strava?

    Strava is an app that is available for PC, IOS and Android devices that amalgamates fitness data in one place from a number of devices. Social Fundraising Challenges use Strava to import your kilometres progress directly to your fundraising page.  Using Strava to track your kilometres is optional and you can also input your progress manually.

  • How do I connect my fitness device to Strava?

    A number of fitness watches, as well as android and ios phones can be used with Strava to record kilometres towards your activity challenge.  For more information on how to connect and use each device, visit the Strava help centre here.

  • How do I share my fundraising page with my friends and family?

    To share your page with your supporters either through social media, email or text messaging follow the steps found in our guide here.

  • Who is CrowdChange?

    CrowdChange is a Heart & Stroke partner and the fundraising platform for the Social Fundraising Challenges. CrowdChange provides an easy and safe way to raise funds online for Heart & Stroke. They assist Heart & Stroke in everything from developing the site to providing technical customer service support to our participants and donors.


  • What is the $2 administration fee?

    To help cover the credit card fees associated with your donation, you have the option of adding an additional administration fee of up to $2 to your donation in order to maximize the funds going to Heart & Stroke.

  • Does CrowdChange get a portion of the $2 administration fee?

    No. The administration fee goes towards covering credit card fees.

  • What should I do if I'm having problems or have a question that wasn't answered here?

    For any technical website support, CrowdChange will be happy to help you get it sorted out - please send an email to support@crowdchange.co  


    For all other questions, please email fundraiseyourway@heartandstroke.ca and we will be happy to help!