Over 1,300 people – from 6-year-old first-time fundraisers to senior citizens—came together to participate in the annual BAPS Charities Walk 2019 in Toronto on Sunday July 21, 2019. The walkathon was an event to bring awareness and raise funds for Environmental protection and Health Initiatives along with other charitable activities organized by BAPS Charities.

The BAPS Charities Walk in Canada nationally supports the life-saving work of the William Osler Health System. This year, the BAPS Charities walk is taking place in 11 cities across Canada including Vancouver, Calgary, Windsor and Cambridge, just to name a few. These walks also support a variety of local causes including the Surrey Hospital Foundation in British Columbia, the Victoria General Hospital Foundation in Manitoba and the Scarborough Health Network in Ontario.

This year over 23,000 walkers in 76 cities in North America joined the walk to help us protect our environment – for our generation and for generations to come. The collective actions of the community have helped The Nature Conservancy plant 61,000 additional trees in 2019. During the last four years, from 2016 to 2019, BAPS Charities Walkathons have helped plant a total of 361,000 trees.

Hon. Kirsty Duncan, MP for Etobicoke North, Minister of Science and Sport said, “Thank you for the work of BAPS Charities. Thank you for the difference you’re making to William Osler and thank you for walking to plant trees to help our planet.”

Mr. Michael Palleschi, Regional Councillor, City of Brampton, tweeted, ‘What a start to the morning! I attended the BAPS Charities walk. A job well done to the organizers, participants & sponsors for raising money to support @OslerHealth & the Plant a Billion Trees initiative. Community engagement at it’s best! #BAPSCharities’

Dr. Brian Klar, Corporate Chief of Family Medicine, William Osler Health Foundation said, “On behalf of Osler and myself, I would like to offer a truly heartfelt thank you for the incredible work you do here today and all throughout the year”

In addition to the annual Walkathon, BAPS Charities actively supports environmental sustainability efforts throughout the year through recycling projects, water conservation and utilizing solar power.

“The activities of BAPS Charities, whether it is the annual walkathon event, blood donor drive, Children’s Health and Safety Day, health fair or a health lecture, engage community members of all ages in the spirit of service”, said Shirish Shah, President of BAPS Charities.

The activities of BAPS Charities are centered on improving the quality of lives of individuals and their families. For additional information on BAPS Charities and its philanthropic activities, please visit http://www.bapscharities.org.