FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Come to the 11th annual Sashbear Walk! Join with community, friends and family to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and show our loved ones that we are with them on their journey to a life worth living.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Is The Sashbear Walk in-person or virtual this year?
Both! The 2023 Sashbear Walk will be held in these cities, and anywhere else you are walking in your own community or connecting virtually with Sashbear in mind:
• Surrey, BC – 11 am May 13 at Hawthorne Rotary Park
• Toronto, ON – 10 am May 28 at Sir Casimir Gzowski Park
• Montréal, QC – 9:30 am June 4 at Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse
• Edmonton, AB – 11 am June 17 at Victoria Park
• St. John’s, NL – 11 am June 17 at Quidi Vidi Park
• Virtual* – May 13 to June 17 – walk or exercise wherever you live

*Walk T-shirts will be mailed to virtual participants with Canadian mailing address.

What is the virtual walk?
If you’re participating virtually, you can join by walking, running, hiking, swimming – whatever you like!

Sashbear Walk shirts will be mailed to virtual walk participants with a Canadian mailing address if registered by June 1st, 2023.

What should I bring to the in-person walk?
Bring a full water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses and a rain coat (just in case). Dress in comfortable clothes and wear a costume if you wish – anything orange would be amazing! Dogs are welcome too!

What’s the itinerary and route?
Each walk location will have a different itinerary and 5K walk route map which will be posted on this site. There will be special guest speakers, awesome entertainment and fabulous prizes!!!

REGISTRATION QUESTIONS

Can I form a team?
You sure can! A team is a great way to fundraise with friends and family. Create a team when you sign up, or afterwards from your fundraising dashboard.

How do I receive donations?
If it’s your first time fundraising, asking for donations can be daunting. But don’t worry, friends and family want to support you! Just explain what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, then ask. If you don’t get any donations the first time, you can always ask again later.

Why is there a registration fee?
Your fundraising dollars will help Sashbear provide free mental health programs to thousands of families, while the registration fee helps to cover event-related costs.

What’s included in my registration?
In-person walk participants will receive a Sashbear Walk T-shirt and swag bag after checking in at the event.

Virtual participants will receive a Sashbear Walk T-shirt in the mail (via Canada Post) if a Canadian mailing address is provided during registration before June 1st.

FUNDRAISING QUESTIONS

Should I donate to myself?
Donating to yourself is a great way to get started. It’ll show donors that you’re committed.

How do I convince people to donate?
When you’re talking about why you are fundraising for Sashbear, make sure you speak personally. Tell a personal story about why you’ve taken this incredible step to fundraise for us. Your family, friends and colleagues will support you because this cause is important to you.

Where does my money go?
All of the money you raise for The Sashbear Walk goes directly to help Sashbear deliver their free mental health and suicide prevention programs to thousands of families every year. All donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt.

What is the deadline for fundraising dollars to be in?
The last day of our Sashbear Walk campaign is June 30, 2023, but we will accept donations afterward.

Can I share a fundraising page with my family?
Absolutely! You can create a fundraising page for your whole family if you like. Or, if you each want your own page then you can form a team and we’ll tally your fundraising together.

OTHER QUESTIONS

Have a donation, tax receipt, or fundraising question?
Please email walkcoordinator@sashbear.org

How can my company get involved?
Starting a company team to walk and fundraise is a fantastic team-building exercise while also supporting a great cause. If you’re interested in getting your company involved, please email Marlene at walkcoordinator@sashbear.org to learn about sponsorship opportunities.

What is the cancellation Policy?
Walk registration fees are non-refundable and non-deferrable. Once online registration is complete, a refund will not be issued for any reason and you will not be able to defer your entry for another year. The Sashbear Foundation, in accordance with city officials and local law enforcement has the authority to cancel any of the events for emergency purposes such as, but not limited to, extreme weather conditions or threat of terrorism. If such emergency conditions force cancellation, refunds cannot be provided since funds will have been spent in preparation for The Sashbear Walk.

Thank you for your support, and for being part of the amazing and wonderful Sashbear community!