History

The Race to Erase was founded by Scott McKay and Rich Bouchard. They had two connected goals in mind: they wanted to create a fun and creative event for people to take part in, and they wanted it to positively enhance the community. First discussed over a game of golf, both agreed that it would be fun to send teams of four on a road rally fundraiser throughout the community, competing in timed challenges along the way. Due to safety concerns (and a high Insurance price tag), the driving would not be timed, only the actual challenges.

The first Race to Erase was held in October 2006. The Race committee partnered with Sarnia's Inn of the Good Shepherd for the Race to Erase Hunger. The event was an immediate success with 30 teams participating and more than $38,000 raised. In the second year, the Race to Erase again raised funds for the Inn of the Good Shepherd, but this time the Race was called the Race to Erase Homelessness as the funds went to building the Good Shepherd's Lodge, a homeless shelter in Sarnia. More recently, the Race has evolved to allow more charities to participate and receive a portion of the funds raised. The Race has also expanded its scope. While the first Race Days were held in Sarnia and London, the Race expanded to Cambridge in 2014, and will soon appear in a number of other communities across Ontario. To date, the event has raised $715,691.

The Race remains committed to three core principles: having fun, fundraising and community spotlight. The event is first and foremost intended to be a fun way to spend Race Day with friends. Like a Corporate Challenge on wheels, teams get to drive to different challenges and do things together they wouldn't normally do, whether that is feeding someone a sundae blindfolded, running through a corn maze or learning a Celtic dance routine. Teams are always laughing as they experience the Race.

It was also always important that this event be tied to fundraising as a way to help positively enhance the community. Each team is asked to raise a minimum of $500, which the committee always believed was reasonable for any team to achieve. All teams are encouraged to raise more than the minimum.

Finally, the Race also works to shine a light on the many great businesses and not-for-profits that our community has to offer. Our goal is to ensure that everyone finishes the race knowing a little more about our community than they did at the start of the day. Each participating challenge works with the organizing committee to create a memorable event that ties into their core message, thus exposing their goals in a fun and unique way.