The 2026 ComPassion Relay: Year Five. $19,055. Thank you.

Saturday January 31st at Kawartha Nordic was a good day.

The sun came out, the trails were in great shape, and over 60 skiers (ages 4 to 71!) spent six hours doing something they love while raising money for six organizations working hard for this community. With two donations coming in after the event, the final total landed at $19,055 for the Wild Rock ComPassion Project, managed in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough.

In five years, this event has now raised over $60,000. That blows our minds a little, but also, knowing the passion and commitment of this community, isn’t a surprise at all.

This year felt special in a few ways. For the first time, Kawartha Nordic's youth programs got involved: over 100 kids earning maple taffy on snow for completing mini relay laps during their weekly lessons. The youngest skiers in the relay were from the Faulds family. The top individuals each skied over 80 kilometres over the six hours, which is honestly absurd in the best way.

And none of this happens without people. Four volunteers ran the whole show: Bev Cameron and Taylor Wilkes covering registration, setup, and everything in between; Pete and Joan Lawless directing traffic and making sure every skier got a bowl of chili from Ashburnham Ale House. The Kawartha Nordic staff, led by General Manager Meagan Gamble, were incredible partners throughout the day.

And John Hauser. This is John's event. He has poured himself into it every year and it shows. As Kieran put it: "John's leadership inspired a multigenerational group of Peterborough's active community to come together doing something that they love while raising money for the ComPassion Project partner organizations. That feels like a win in every possible way."

We agree completely. See you next January.

Funds raised at the Relay support the ComPassion Project's six partner organizations — YES Shelter, One City Peterborough, Fourcast Addiction Services, Kawartha Land Trust, Peterborough Trailbuilders Association, and Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee. You can get involved or donate here.