Hundreds of kids to converge on local parks to quicken the pace for wildlife conservation

TORONTO, May 23, 2017 /CNW/ - Hundreds of kids and their families will take to community parks this June to protect vital habitat and secure the future of wildlife in Canada by participating in Kids' Run for Nature.

Founded in 2015 by Jasmine de Pencier and Jett Jardeleza-Toole when they were 10 years old, Kids' Run for Nature combines their passion for running with their desire to protect at-risk Canadian wildlife. Kids' Run for Nature has grown from a single event in Toronto's Withrow Park to eight locations nationally.

Geared towards kids and families, the series of 1 km, 3 km and 5 km runs give kids the opportunity to contribute to positive change for the environment and help the animals they love, while connecting to nature and doing something healthy.

To date, Kids' Run for Nature has brought more than 1,300 runners to local parks and raised close to $50,000 for WWF-Canada. This year, they aim to raise another $50,000 to fund conservation initiatives that protect wild species and their habitats ? from the Arctic's Lancaster Sound and B.C.'s Salish Sea to Canada's rivers and urban areas.

WHEN & WHERE

Sunday, June 4
Mill Pond Park, Richmond Hill, Ont.

Sunday, June 11
Withrow Park, Toronto, (flagship run)
Étienne Brûlé Park, Toronto
Town Agricultural Park, Port Hope, Ont.
Britannia Park, Ottawa
Confederation Park, Calgary
Auburn Bay, Calgary

Sunday, June 18
Lakeside Park, Mississauga Ont.

Sign up to run: http://www.kidsrunfornature.ca/runs 

Get involved:
Canadians are encouraged to participate in a run, donate or volunteer at one of the local events. They can even host Kids' Run for Nature in their local community. Organizers, teachers and schools interested in hosting their own runs are encouraged to contact Kids' Run for Nature for more information.

David Miller, president and CEO WWF-Canada, says:
"Conserving wildlife isn't just for adults. Jasmine, Jett and all the kids who take part in Kids' Run for Nature show that young environmentalists can make an incredible difference for wildlife in Canada. They run for tigers, for polar bears, for butterflies and for other wildlife. Whatever their inspiration, WWF-Canada is proud of their efforts to help nature thrive."

Jett Jardeleza-Toole, co-founder of Kids' Run for Nature, says:
"Jasmine and I started Kids' Run for Nature because we both love running and wanted to do something to help Canadian wildlife. Every animal, no matter how small, is important to our ecosystems. Kids should participate because it's a good way to get active and support the World Wildlife Fund Canada and their conservation efforts."

About World Wildlife Fund Canada
WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca.

About Kids Run for Nature
Founded in 2015 by Jasmine de Pencier and Jett Jardeleza-Toole, Kids' Run for Nature is a fun run organized by kids in support of WWF-Canada's work to protect vulnerable wildlife. For more info visit kidsrunfornature.ca

SOURCE WWF-Canada