NEWS RELEASE
MONARCH ULTRA
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On Sept. 19, the Monarch Ultra Relay Run officially kicks off on a 21-day running event to raise awareness about the plight and flight of monarch butterflies.
Ultra-runners are invited to be part of an awareness campaign to protect monarchs whose populations are in steep decline due to climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use. The route takes runners throughout southern Ontario along the scenic TransCanada Trail and Waterfront Trail, through cities and towns, greenways and lakeshores.
Beginning in Peterborough, the runners will head southwest to Toronto, Burlington, Hamilton, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, before looping back around toward London, Cambridge and Kitchener, and ending in Barrie on Oct. 9.
Each day, the Monarch Ultra team will cover 80 kilometres, with four running segments available per day – two segments of 30 km and another two segments of 50 km. The 1,800-km relay run will be one of Canada’s longest running events in a first-of-its-kind collaboration with multiple organizations and municipalities.
“This multi-day running adventure invites participants to traverse rural and urban landscapes, while it’s the journey and not the destination that matters most for this year’s relay run,” said Carlotta James, Project Director and Co-founder.
“In our pursuit to raise awareness about the ecological challenges taking place in Canada and around the world, we have a responsibility to show that we care about nature and will protect it. Through the Monarch Ultra, we have an opportunity to amplify our message for conservation action and to restore pollinator habitat across southern Ontario before it’s too late,” continued James.
The event is entirely organized by a volunteer team who is passionate about protecting the Earth and is on a mission to inspire communities to create native gardens for pollinators. All donations raised through the relay run will go directly to Camp Kawartha, a non-profit organization that offers nature education and environmental stewardship for youth.
“Camp Kawartha is just delighted to partner with the Monarch Ultra. Teaching children about the remarkable journey these beautiful winged beings take, help us to understand how interconnected the natural world really is. Protecting Monarchs, means protecting Monarch habitat and habitat for other pollinators. And that in turn means healthier ecosystems for all living things,” said Jacob Rodenburg, Executive Director.
The Monarch Ultra is building partnerships with conservation organizations, schools and municipalities to host community events and cheer the runners as they pass through dozens of cities.
All COVID-19 protocols will be adhered to during the 21-day running event. Each segment will have a maximum of two runners, and the support crew will be following all safety guidelines.
Depending on the status of COVID-19 this fall, the team hopes to meet with students and teachers to encourage them to run for monarch butterflies and plant pollinator gardens through the Mini-Monarch Ultra program. The team also plans to meet with mayors and politicians along the route to share the message of conservation and climate action.
Most importantly, the Monarch Ultra is an opportunity to connect communities across southern Ontario on an inspiring journey of hope and resilience that combines ultra-running and pollinator protection.
To participate in the relay run, runners can register here. For more information on the Monarch Ultra, visit the website or send an email to Carlotta James at [email protected].
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