Virtual Canvass

This year, Heart & Stroke canvassing will look a little different, but the goal is the same: Beat heart disease and stroke. Now’s your chance to connect with your community in a new way, and share lifesaving information. When we beat as one, we accomplish so much more together!

Register Online Top Fundraisers

Join us for Stroke Month in June

Our shared goal to beat heart disease and stroke is urgent. These diseases remain the #1 killer globally, and two of the three leading causes of death in Canada.  You can help save more lives and beat stroke—register to fundraise in Stroke Month this June.

Register Now

An easy way to make a bigger impact

When you fundraise online, more of that money goes directly to research — and that means more lives saved. Payments can be accepted by credit card, and tax receipts are issued immediately. You can make a big difference with the device you’re using right now!

Start now

Meet our Heart Month top fundraisers

Feel inspired by the life-saving funds raised by our top fundraisers in February for Heart Month. Start making a difference today for Stroke month.

  1. Self Pledge Heather Plett - $3,032.00
  2. Self Pledge Bill Kettner - $2,800.00
  3. Self Pledge Joanne Jervis - $1,935.00
  4. Jack Walker - $1,704.00
  5. Self Pledge Terri Caillier - $1,668.00
  6. Self Pledge Brenda Basaraba - $1,549.00
  7. Peggi Talbot - $1,208.00
  8. Self Pledge William Biehl - $803.00
  9. Self Pledge Frances Booth - $687.00
  10. Self Pledge Diane McCarthy - $679.00
  1. Self Pledge Mary Clayton - $5,819.00
  2. Greg Defrancisco - $4,186.00
  3. Self Pledge Michael Langley - $3,712.00
  4. Self Pledge Janice Chisholm - $3,301.00
  5. Self Pledge Moe Danis - $2,843.00
  6. Self Pledge Sharon Runstedler - $2,784.00
  7. Self Pledge Rick Starr - $2,739.00
  8. Self Pledge Sharanne MacDonald - $2,637.00
  9. Jessica Hasold - $2,546.00
  10. Self Pledge Judy McLellan - $2,360.00
  1. Coy O'Billovich - $6,692.00
  2. Donna Mitchell - $5,247.00
  3. Self Pledge Ruth Noland Flores - $3,350.00
  4. Self Pledge Albert Wierenga - $3,332.55
  5. Self Pledge Leslie Jennings - $3,252.00
  6. Self Pledge Robin Ann Leask - $2,611.00
  7. Margo Kranendonk - $2,239.00
  8. Self Pledge Cathy Mcmullen - $2,186.00
  9. Self Pledge Helen Gibson-Dubeau - $2,022.00
  10. Walter Kleer - $2,000.00
  1. Self Pledge Graham Wheatley - $5,869.00
  2. Self Pledge Rick Turnbull - $3,986.00
  3. Catherine D'Alessandris - $3,130.00
  4. Usha Agrawal - $3,059.00
  5. Self Pledge Marilyn Machutchon - $2,564.00
  6. Debbie Givens - $2,550.00
  7. Self Pledge Sareena Hopkins - $2,391.99
  8. Self Pledge Leslie Behnia - $2,310.00
  9. Self Pledge Karen McArthur - $2,291.00
  10. Self Pledge Stephen Smith - $2,241.00

Leaderboard reflects online fundraising amounts only

FAQs

We’ve tried to answer many common questions below, but if you need additional help, please get in touch.

  • Fundraising online means less admin costs meaning more dollars go towards research and more impact.
  • Donors get their tax receipt immediately.
  • Donate by credit card.
  • Online fundraising is simple and can be done from the comfort of your home, anytime.
  • It’s safe and secure!

Fundraising involves asking for donations and sharing lifesaving information with your neighbours, friends, family, co-workers.

We encourage you to set a personal fundraising goal of $400 or more.

You can collect money by reaching out to your networks with your personal fundraising page link and asking them to make a donation directly to your page. You can do this via email or social media. For suggested content and tips, click here.

Our easy-to-use online tools are the best way to collect donations. This helps us to keep track of how much you have raised and issue instant tax receipts to donors to avoid any processing times. However, we know that some people may prefer to donate to your Stroke Month Virtual Canvass efforts by other methods. If you receive a cheque donation, you can enter all the details into your Participant Centre and mail your donations to:

Heart and Stroke Foundation
Attention: ShanShan
2300 Yonge St., Suite 1300,
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4

Inside the envelope make sure to provide:

  • Donor Information
  • First name, last name, full address of the person making the donation.
  • Your Participant info, if applicable
  • First name, last name, email, constituent ID (if known)
  • Program Information
  • Program and Event Name (e.g. Fundraise Your Way Virtual Canvass, Fundraise Your Way Celebrate, etc.)
  • Amount included in the mailing.

Your Participant Centre is your gateway for fundraising online! Use your Participant Centre to:

  1. Share your story - Customize your personal page, using compelling pictures, text, even video!
  2. Make the first donation a self-donation - lead the way and kick off your fundraising!
  3. Shout it from roof tops - Share your page via email and social media. Make it known that you’re helping save lives!

We’ve made it easy for you! Check out our email and social media resources that have customizable messaging for you to email to your contacts and share on your social media platforms.

The easiest fix is to request a new password. Simply click on this link and follow the steps to request a password reset.

Our easy-to-use online tools are the best way to collect donations. This helps us to keep track of how much you have raised and issue instant tax receipts to donors to avoid any processing times. However, we know that some people may prefer to donate to your Stroke Month Virtual Canvass efforts by other methods. If you receive a cheque donation, you can enter all the details into your Participant Centre and mail your donations to:

Heart and Stroke Foundation
Attention: ShanShan
2300 Yonge St., Suite 1300,
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4

Inside the envelope make sure to provide:

  • Donor Information
  • First name, last name, full address of the person making the donation.
  • Your Participant info, if applicable
  • First name, last name, email, constituent ID (if known)
  • Program Information
  • Program and Event Name (e.g. Fundraise Your Way Virtual Canvass, Fundraise Your Way Celebrate, etc.)
  • Amount included in the mailing.

When you donate online, you will receive your official tax receipt via email immediately. If you do not receive your tax receipt, please reach out to fundraiseyourway@heartandstroke.ca to request a new one.

Heart & Stroke adheres to CRA guidelines and must account for all tax receipts that have been printed and distributed which is difficult to do when in the hands of thousands of volunteers. Interim tax receipts allow for strong tax receipt control, tracking, and reporting.

We’d be happy to hear from you! Please contact us via email at fundraiseyourway@heartandstroke.ca.

Please check out the Our Impact section to keep up to date and learn more about how your dollars are making an impact.

We recommend calling or emailing any neighbours that you have contact information to let them know that you will be fundraising for Heart & Stroke online only this year, for their safety and their community, and that you will provide more details soon.

Encourage any neighbours you have spoken with by phone or email to let any of your other neighbours know that you will be fundraising online this year.

Our supporters' safety and wellbeing is our highest priority. Given the increased risk of the COVID-19 virus spreading when people are exposed to others, we are taking precautions in all of the communities we serve.

Check out the following page with updated information from Heart & Stroke: www.heartandstroke.ca/articles/coronavirus-heart-disease-and-stroke

Heart & Stroke is always evaluating our programs to ensure they deliver the most impact on our mission. Right now, we don't know what the Heart & Stroke canvass campaign will look like in 2022 but we know that online fundraising is here to stay. When you fundraise online, more of that money goes directly to research — and that means more lives saved. Payments can be accepted by credit card, and tax receipts are issued immediately. You can make a big difference with the device you’re using right now!

Fundraise With Social

Want an easy way to significantly boost your fundraising? Try email and social media.

Even if you’re not very active online, your network is powerful and ready to help.

Or if you are interested in starting a Facebook Fundraiser, please read these guidelines. Alternatively, you can post on Facebook using the text available when you click on the red Facebook button.

Email

Email Templates

Donation Email #1

Subject Line: Help me promote health & save lives

Hello friends and family,

Would you like to help me fund lifesaving research? If so, I’d love to have your support in raising funds for Heart & Stroke.

It’s important to me to support Heart & Stroke because [insert personal reason here].

That’s why I’m [describe event/fundraising activity].

Did you know?

  • Every five minutes, someone in this country dies from heart disease, stroke and related conditions.
  • With the pandemic, donations and funding for lifesaving research have never been at greater risk.
  • The need to treat these diseases is more urgent than ever people with these conditions are at higher risk for complications, and death, if they contract COVID-19.

Can I count on you to donate $25 toward my fundraiser to help me reach my goal of [xxx]? Your donation will help save lives.

Just click the link below to my personal page, where you can make a secure donation.

[Insert Fundraising Page URL]

Together, we’ll beat heart disease and stroke. Thank you for your generous support!

Donation Email #2

Subject Line: Will you help me reach my goal for Heart & Stroke?

Dear friends and family,

Are you ready to help save lives?

I started a fundraiser to help Heart & Stroke fund the next research breakthrough. The funds I raise will support initiatives in my community that promote health, save lives, and enhance recovery.

Heart & Stroke, and the work they do, really matters to me because [write your “why” or your experience with heart disease and stroke].

I’m committed to raising [$$$] for lifesaving research.

Will you help me reach my goal?

Just click the link below to my personal page to give today.

[Insert Fundraising Page URL]

Thank you for your donation. It means a lot to me, and to those I’ll be helping. Together, we’ll beat heart disease and stroke.

Donation Email #3

Subject Line: One last request: Will you please give?

Hi, it’s me again!

My Heart & Stroke fundraiser is coming to an end and I wanted to make sure you had the opportunity to give.

I’ve made great progress toward my fundraising goal of [$$$], with just [$$$] left to go and [XX] days to get there.

This is my last chance to ask for help to make a difference in the lives of the 1.6 million people in Canada touched by heart disease and stroke.

Please click the link below to my personal page and make a secure donation.

[Insert Fundraising Page URL]

Thank you for your support, from the bottom of my heart.

Join My Team Email

Subject Line: We’d make a winning team

I’ve created a fundraiser called [Fundraiser Name] in support of Heart & Stroke. I’m raising money for this amazing cause, and I’d love to have you join me!

If you’d like to join, search for it here using the name of my fundraiser: [Fundraiser Name].

As you may know, Heart & Stroke is dear to me because [insert reasons here].

Their mission — promote health, save lives, enhance recovery — helps millions of people in Canada in one way or another. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you or someone you care about is one of them.

If you’d rather support me personally with a donation, you can do that as well! Every amount helps fund lifesaving research.

Please click the link below to access my personal page and make your gift securely.

[Insert Fundraising Page URL]

Thanks a ton,

[First Name]

Captain’s Email Update

Subject Line: Team News

Hi Team!

Time for a quick update on our Heart & Stroke fundraiser, [Fundraiser Name].

We’ve set a goal of [$$$] to be raised by [X] fundraisers, and we’re making great progress. As of today, we’re at [$$$] and I couldn’t be prouder! If you’re looking for fundraising tips and inspiration, these ideas will help:

  1. Always start with your nearest and dearest.
  2. Buddy up by asking friends to ask their friends.
  3. Bring it full circle by calling on people you’ve helped in the past.
  4. Call on your work colleagues and your community, like your virtual book club or parenting group.
  5. Try donating to yourself and invite others to follow it shows your commitment to the cause.
  6. Remember to share your fundraiser on social media.

If you connect your donation request to your personal reasons for supporting [Fundraiser Name], we can make an even bigger difference in the lives of people across Canada.

Thanks for joining me, I couldn’t do this without you!

[First Name]

P.S. Don’t forget to send a thank-you note to your donors. They need to hear how much their support matters!

Thank You Email #1

Subject Line: You're the best!

Dear [Donor Name],

Your donation to my Heart & Stroke fundraiser means so much to me. Thank you for your incredible support.

Heart & Stroke has already made huge strides in the fight against heart disease and stroke. And your donation helps to fund 891 researchers whose breakthroughs could save lives and improve outcomes of survivors.

Researchers such as:

  • Dr. Yu Tian Wang, who is working on drugs that could save your brain cells after a stroke.
  • Dr. Guillaume Paré, who is working on the ACE2 protein receptor, which plays an important role in both heart and brain health
  • Dr. Richard Swartz, who is has launched an international study of COVID-19 survivors to help understand the cognitive impacts of the virus

These studies are urgently needed right now. With the pandemic, donations and funding for lifesaving research have never been at greater risk.

Plus, those with these conditions are at higher risk for complications, and death, if they contract COVID-19.

With your donation, Heart & Stroke can keep making a real difference. Together, we’ll beat heart disease and stroke. Gratefully yours,

[First Name]

Thank You Email #2

Subject Line: Thank You!

Dear [Donor Name],

Your donation to my Heart & Stroke fundraiser means so much to me. Thank you for your incredible support.

Heart & Stroke has already made huge strides in the fight against heart disease and stroke. And your donation helps to fund 891 researchers whose breakthroughs could save lives and improve outcomes of survivors.

Researchers such as:

  • Dr. Yu Tian Wang, who is working on drugs that could save your brain cells after a stroke.
  • Dr. Guillaume Paré, who is working on the ACE2 protein receptor, which plays an important role in both heart and brain health
  • Dr. Richard Swartz, who is has launched an international study of COVID-19 survivors to help understand the cognitive impacts of the virus

These studies are urgently needed right now. With the pandemic, donations and funding for lifesaving research have never been at greater risk.

Plus, those with these conditions are at higher risk for complications, and death, if they contract COVID-19.

With your donation, Heart & Stroke can keep making a real difference. Together, we’ll beat heart disease and stroke.

With gratitude,

[First Name]