Hi runners, walkers, donors and ACAS supporters,

Are you ready to run for a great cause? The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k Run/Walk will take place on Sunday, October 19, 2014. We invite you to take part of the challenge to become one of our runners, walkers and/or supporters.
Last year, ACAS had 26 runners/walkers in four teams to rasie a total of $20,120.91 at the 2013 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5k, exceeding our $20,000 fundraising goal.
This year, we are hoping to achieve or surpass our $20,000 fundraising goal for our 20th anniversary in community activism and advocacy for the East and Southeast Asian HIV and LGBTQ communities in Toronto. The funds raised will not only ensure that our East and Southeast Asian service users living with HIV/AIDS can continue to receive the much needed culturally and linguistically appropriate services they need, but will also allow us in creating an Asian PHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) Network in Ontario.
With the generous support from our donors last year, the ACAS Support Program had been able to hold an health focused retreat for services users living with HIV at the Ecology Retreat Centre in Orangeville, ON with the funds we had raised at last year’s Scotia Run fundraising event along with support from pharmaceutical companies. Through your support, we will be able to continue to providing quality and individualized services to our service users and empower them through providing social support opportunities through groups such as ALPHA, increasing their holistic health knowledge through the health promotion workshops, and offering complementary an array of complementary therapies including acupuncture and massage therapy services.
Please watch this space and our ACAS website (http://www.acas.org) and ACAS Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/AsianCommunityAIDSServices) for news and updates.
If you would like to register to become a runner and raise money for ACAS, you can register as a runner at https://secure.eventsonline.ca/events/crs_scotia/ after which you can select from the pull down menu under the section “Scotiabank Charity Challenge” and select 1) I would like to Create a Fundraising Account, and 2) choose Asian Community AIDS Services as your designated charity. Please then proceed to create a username and password andkeep them in a safe space for future reference. Under the section “Discounts, Gift Certificates & Pin Codes” please enter 14TSCC for thePreferred Charity Rates: $40.00 for 5k runner/walker; $50.00 for 5k runner/walker with baby stroller; $70.00 for Half Marathon runner (21k); $80.00 for Marathon runner (42k); and $25 for 5k runner/walker aged under 12. As an ACAS runner/walker, you are entitled to use this charity discount code as a way for us to thank you for being our runner/walker or fundraiser. Please make sure that you utilize the 14TSCC code when you register as ACAS will not be able to reimburse you after you have registered. The only exception is for the top 10 fundraisers whom ACAS will reimburse the amount of the registration to you after the race. Free Registration fee will be waived for first 3 PHAs to register with ACAS, and the top 10 fundraisers will have their entry fee refunded after the race. Also, there will be a prize for the top fundraiser, so start training and ask your network to sponsor you!The system will prompt you that after you create your fundraising account, please look for the TRANSFER button on your final registration confirmation screen and then You MUST CLICK ON THE TRANSFERbutton to proceed with creating a fundraising account or making a one time donation. After you have been transferred to the fundraising page, you can login to your fundraising account with the username and password you have created prior and personalize your page with your own message, photos and videos. You can also select to join Team ACAS as part of the main ACAS ScotiaRun 2014 Team! Remember, successful fundraisers tend to create personal messages and explain clearly why they are participating in the fundraising event, so feel free to speak from your heart!
If you are a PHA interested in running, please contact Andrew at support@acas.org as the first 3 PHA will be eligible for free registration. If you are a youth (age < 25), please contact Meza at youth@acas.org and let him know you are interested in registering and/or might need assistance with the registration cost.
If you would just like to fundraise for ACAS without becoming a runner or walker, you can go to https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/LocationHome.aspx?eventid=140859&langpref=en-CA&locationID=140953, click on “Register here to fundraise” to create a fundraising profile.
If you would just like to make a donation to Team ACAS at the 2014 Scotiabank Toronto Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k, you can donate directly here by clicking on the follwoing link: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/PersonalPage.aspx?eventid=140859&RegistrationID=2467274. Tax receipts will be issued for amounts over $20.00.
Race kit will be available for pick-up on Friday, Friday, October 17th (11:00am to 8:00pm) and Saturday October 18th (10:00am to 6:00pm) at the Runner’s Expo at Hall D, Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place. Please bring 1) your Bib # is (will be emailed to you on October 15 and posted on the online confirmation list and will be available for look up at the expo), and 2) you Photo ID OR a printout of your registration email confirmation (or have it on your smart phone to show the volunteers).
Thanks for supporting ACAS and taking part of our ACAS 2014 Scotia Run Fundraising Challenge. If you have any questions regarding the run, please contact Christian Hui at community@acas.org after August 20 for further assistance.
For more information, please watch out for updates on our ACAS ScotiaRun 2014 Tumblr Page at: http://run4acas.tumblr.com/