Ottawa's Tamarack Race Weekend brings together thousands of runners of all abilities each spring — but for Grace Kennedy and her teammates at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), this year's event is about something much bigger than a personal best.
Kennedy is the first to admit she doesn't consider herself a regular runner. Yet she and her TOH colleagues are lacing up anyway, united by a shared mission: raising money for mental health at one of Ottawa's most iconic annual events.
Running for a Reason
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend draws participants from across Canada and around the world each year, with routes winding through some of the city's most scenic stretches — along the Rideau Canal, through the ByWard Market, past Gatineau Hills views. For most, it's a personal athletic challenge. For the TOH team, it's a fundraising platform, a chance to channel the collective energy of race day into real support for mental health services.
Mental health funding has become an increasingly urgent conversation across Canada, and Ottawa is no exception. With wait times for psychiatric care stretching into months for many residents, hospital foundations and community teams are finding creative ways to raise awareness and dollars outside of traditional campaigns.
You Don't Have to Be a Runner
One of the most powerful parts of the TOH team's story is that it's open to everyone. Kennedy's candour about not being a "real runner" will resonate with a lot of Ottawans who've looked at Race Weekend registration and thought: that's not for me.
It is. Whether you walk the 2K, jog the 5K, or tackle a longer distance, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend has an entry point for every fitness level. And when your kilometres are tied to a cause, the finish line means something different.
Why Mental Health, Why Now
The Ottawa Hospital is one of the region's largest healthcare providers. Its foundation supports critical programs across all areas of care — including mental health — filling gaps that government budgets don't always cover, from specialized equipment to patient support programs.
Demand for mental health services in Ottawa has never been higher. The compounding effects of the pandemic, economic pressure, and everyday stress have stretched the system, and community fundraising efforts like this one help bridge the gap between what's funded and what's needed.
How to Get Involved
If the TOH team's mission resonates with you, there are easy ways to support. Register for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend and start your own fundraising page, donate to a team member's campaign directly, or come out race weekend to cheer along the route.
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend typically runs in late May. Few things capture Ottawa's community spirit better — and this year, teams like the one from The Ottawa Hospital are making sure the event stands for something well beyond the finish line.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal
