The Marathon Sick Children's Fund

The Marathon Sick Children's Fund is a Canadian nonprofit organization founded in 1989, dedicated to assisting families in the Marathon and District area who face financial hardships due to travel costs for medical treatment of their sick children. Recognized as a registered charity by the Canada Revenue Agency under the business registration number 889948774RR0001, the Fund operates primarily through voluntary efforts and community support.

History and Purpose

Established by a group of concerned citizens in Marathon, Ontario, the Fund was created to alleviate the financial burden on families who must travel long distances to seek specialized medical care for their children. Since its inception, the organization has provided over $545,000 in assistance to such families, helping to offset expenses related to medical travel.

Operations and Funding

The Marathon Sick Children's Fund maintains very low operating costs, typically less than $400 annually, due to its reliance on volunteers. This efficiency ensures that the majority of donations go directly to aid families in need.

Funding for the organization is sourced from the generosity of Marathon’s residents, local businesses, and community groups. A significant contributor to the Fund’s resources has been the Marathon detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, which has organized a Sick Children's Golf Tournament for over 30 years. This event alone has raised more than $153,000 to support the Fund’s activities.

In addition to event fundraising, the organization receives sustaining donations from individuals, corporations, and staff groups from various businesses and organizations. The Fund also appreciates in-memoriam donations, which have become an important source of support in recent years.

Eligibility and Assistance

The Fund’s policy is to provide financial assistance to any family residing in Marathon, Heron Bay, and surrounding districts who are experiencing serious financial difficulties due to travel expenses related to a child's medical treatment. Assistance is typically aimed at reducing the financial strain of transportation and accommodation costs necessary for accessing specialized healthcare services.

Impact

Over the years, the Marathon Sick Children's Fund has played a crucial role in supporting families facing challenging health circumstances by mitigating the additional financial challenges posed by travel for medical care. The community-oriented approach and volunteer-driven model have helped sustain the organization’s mission with the continued support of local donors and partners.

Note: The above information is based on publicly available data as of 2025.

[1] https://marathonsickkids.org [2] https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-marathon-sick-childrens-fund/ [3] https://marathonsickkids.org/application [4] https://fundraise.sickkidsfoundation.com/torontomarathon [5] https://events.dancemarathon.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1637&eventID=3093