The Monarch Ultra Relay Run, an 1,800 kilometre ultra marathon from Peterborough to Barrie, Ontario, successfully completed its 3-week journey to raise awareness of threatened monarch butterflies. Fifty-eight (58) ultra-runners participated in the relay run across southern Ontario as a call to action to protect monarch butterflies and raise funds for Camp Kawartha.
Partnering with the Camp was important to the Monarch Ultra’s mission of empowering the next generation of Earth stewards. Through the Monarch Ultra Relay Run and Virtual 10km event, they raised over $10,000 for Camp Kawartha.
Project co-founder Carlotta James said, “Long distance running combined with the flight of monarch butterflies is at the heart of our work and our vision to raise awareness of biodiversity loss.”
A highlight of the cross-province tour was running to Point Pelee National Park, Canada’s most southern point. The team witnessed dozens of monarch butterflies fly across Lake Erie as they migrated towards Mexico, the overwintering home for the eastern population. The epic monarch migration was the original inspiration for the Monarch Ultra Relay Run, a species that can fly over 4,000 kilometres from southern Ontario to the Sierra Madre Mountains facing many challenges. Similarly, the endurance runners ran through heat, rainstorms and physical pain. “Witnessing the runner’s grit and determination to finish their relay leg is a memory I hold dear to my heart. For many of the runners who ran distances of 30km or 50km for the first time, there was a massive sense of achievement,” said James.
Already the team is preparing for their next run to Mexico in 2023!
