Participants’ FAQ

About Cours pour le Coeur

1. What is the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation?

The Montreal Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) is a leader in the fight against cardiovascular disease, the primary cause of death worldwide. The Foundation collects and manages funds to support the Institute’s groundbreaking and top-priority projects. Since its creation in 1977, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation has remitted nearly $237 million to the Institute.

2. What is the Cours pour le Coeur program?

Cours pour le Coeur is a win-win event for everyone involved. Whether you’re a walker or runner, Cours pour le Coeur lets you take part in the event of your choice while raising money from your family, friends and acquaintances for the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation. We even pay your registration fees¹. (Don't forget to register for your run with your race organizer.) 

¹ When you collect $200 or more

3. How do I get reimbursed for my registration fees?

For 2018, getting reimbursed works like this:

• As soon as you have raised $200, we will ask you for proof of registration for your race or event, including the amount you paid.
• You will have up to two weeks after your race to collect at least $200 in donations.
• The Foundation must receive proof of your registration by two weeks after your race. (For example, if your race is on June 11, you will have until June 25.)
• Two weeks after the race, the Foundation will reimburse participants who have submitted the required documents.
• Please allow 4 to 6 weeks to receive the reimbursement of your registration fees and your gift from the Foundation.
• Please note that you will be reimbursed only for your registration fees (and not for taxes or administrative charges).

Registration

4. How do I sign up for a race?

The Cours pour le Coeur microsite was created to simplify the process and help make you as independent as possible, whether registering, fundraising or sending out thank-you e-mails. To register, click on the blue “I want to run” button and follow the instructions.

If you need any help, take our tutorial.

If you don’t see your race in the list, please contact Marie-Josée Carroll at the Foundation, at marie-josee.carroll@icm-mhi.org or 514 376-3330, ext. 2451.

5. Can I sign up for more than one race in a year?

If you want to raise funds in several races, please contact Marie-Josée Carroll at the Foundation, at marie-josee.carroll@icm-mhi.org or 514 376-3330, ext. 2451.

6. If I create a team, how can I register all the participants?

First, sign up as team captain. Then, in the participant’s centre, you will have a chance to invite your friends and acquaintances to register as members of your team. It’s that easy!

As each new teammate signs up, you will receive an alert. You will also be able to track team developments and communicate with the members of your team through the participant’s centre.

Here are a few important points to remember in regard to fundraising:

• Only participants who have collected at least $200 in donations will be reimbursed for their registration fee.
• All donations made to a team are divided equally among the members. For instance, if your team has four members and receives a $100 donation, every teammate will be credited with the amount of $25.

7. Once I have registered, what happens?

As soon as you have registered, you can start fundraising!

You will have a dedicated “participant’s centre” to help you reach your goal. This platform lets you:

• Import your contacts
• Send e-mails (we will provide models you can use)
• Follow up on donations (reminders and thank-you e-mails)
• Increase your goal
• Get access to a toolbox with handy resources

Reimbursement of Fees

8. How do I get reimbursed for my registration fees?

For 2018, reimbursement works as follows:

• As soon as you have raised $200, we will ask you for proof of registration and of the amount you paid.
• You will have to up to two weeks after your race to raise at least $200 in donations.
• The Foundation must receive your proof of registration no later than two weeks after your race. (For example, if your race is on June 11, you will have until June 25.)
• Two weeks after your race, the Foundation will reimburse participants who have submitted all the documents requested.
• Please allow 4 to 6 weeks to receive the reimbursement of your registration fees and your gift from the Foundation.
• Please note that you will be reimbursed only for your registration fees (and not for taxes or administrative charges).

9. Is there a maximum amount that can be reimbursed?

No matter how much the registration fees are for your race or sports challenge, the Foundation will reimburse you for the full amount when you raise $200 or more. Only races held in Canada are eligible, except for races over 42 km, triathlons, ultramarathons and 24-hour challenges.

If you would like to raise funds for the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation by taking part in an ultramarathon, a triathlon, an Ironman event or another similar event, please contact Marie-Josée Carroll at the Foundation, at marie-josee.carroll@icm-mhi.org or 514 376-3330, ext. 2451.

Fundraising

10. How does fundraising work?

The Cours pour le Coeur microsite was created to simplify the process and make you as independent as possible in your fundraising efforts. Once you have registered, we will assist you with e-mailing your contacts to get your fundraising started. You will also receive friendly reminder calls designed to help you reach your goal.

If you have any trouble using the microsite, please view our tutorial.

11. What happens if I don’t reach the $200 minimum?

First, we’d like to thank you for raising funds for the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation. Your generosity touches our hearts!

If you don’t collect the minimum amount of $200 in donations, you will not be reimbursed for your registration fees and you won’t receive a gift from the Foundation. Remember, though: you have up to two weeks after your race to raise funds. Highlighting your successes is a good way to drum up donor enthusiasm and get the donations you still need!

12. Can I change my fundraising goal after registering?

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage you to do so. Here’s how: On the homepage, click on the red “Log in” button and enter your identifiers. Then click on “My fundraising.”  In the fundraising summary box, click on “Edit” and enter the new amount.

13. Will donors receive a tax receipt?

Anyone who supports your fundraising efforts with an online donation will automatically receive a tax receipt for the value of their donation.

14. Can I receive donations in cash or by cheque?

Anyone who supports your fundraising efforts by making a donation in cash or by cheque will receive a tax receipt when you have remitted the donation and the donor’s contact information to the Foundation. Use the donation sheet found in the participant’s centre to keep things simple! To ensure donors receive a tax receipt, be sure to enter the information regarding each donation (name, address and amount) in the participant’s centre.

15. When do I remit donations I receive in cash or by cheque?

You must remit any such donations to the Foundation in person or by mail within two weeks of receiving them. Our address: Montreal Heart Institute Foundation, 4100 Molson Street, Suite 340, Montreal (Quebec) H1Y 3N1, attn.: Marie-Josée Carroll.

³ We strongly suggest that you not send money through the mail. Instead, make out a cheque for the total amount of the donations you received and provide us with the donors’ names and contact information as well as the amount of each donation so that we can issue tax receipts.

Where Your Donations Go

16. How will the money raised be used?

All funds raised as part of the Cours pour le Coeur program go toward the Montreal Heart Institute’s groundbreaking, top-priority projects as well as its research into cardiovascular disease. In 2016-2017, the funds raised by the Foundation were used to finance the Institute’s move to digital technology, ensure greater data reliability in real time, and provide health professionals with greater accessibility to the results, among other things. In addition, the Institute purcahsed a heart-lung machine for the surgical unit, which will allow physicians to care for more patients, reduce patient stays and ensure faster recuperation times.

Find a Race

17. What do I do if I can’t see my race on the Cours pour le Coeur site?

If you don’t see your race on our list, please contact Marie-Josée Carroll at the Foundation so that we can add it, at: marie-josee.carroll@icm-mhi.org or 514 376-3330, ext. 2451.

18. If I take part in a race that isn’t registered, can I still be reimbursed for my registration fees?

Yes, all races in Canada (42 km or less) are eligible for the Cours pour le Coeur program.

However, if you want to raise funds by taking part in an ultramarathon, a triathlon, an Ironman event or a 24-hour challenge, please contact Marie-Josée Carroll at the Foundation, at marie-josee.carroll@icm-mhi.org or 514 376-3330, ext. 2451. Other fundraising options are available.

Find a Participant

19. How can I find a participant who is already registered?

If you have received an e-mail from a Cours pour le Coeur participant, click on the link in the e-mail. It will take you to the participant’s fundraising page, and your donation will count towards his or her fundraising efforts.

To find a registered participant, visit www.courspourlecoeur.ca and click on the red “I want to donate to a runner” button.

Enter the name of the participant you want to encourage in the search engine. Just a few letters of the first or last name should do the trick. Click on the runner’s name and make your donation.

Find a Team

20. How can I find a team that is already registered?

If you have received an e-mail from a registered Cours pour le Coeur team, click on the link in the e-mail. It will take you to the team’s fundraising page, and your donation will count toward each member’s fundraising efforts. Please note that all donations made to a team are divided equally among its members.

To find a registered team, go to the “Give to a runner” page and look for the team using its name or the name of the team’s captain. Just a few letters of the team’s name or the captain’s first or last name should do the trick. In the search results, click on the team’s name to access its page. From there, you will be able to join the team as a participant or encourage it with a donation.

21. What are the benefits of creating a team?

As a member of a team, you’ll be part of a community of runners dedicated to fighting cardiovascular disease.

You’ll benefit from the encouragement and team spirit of your teammates and get a motivational boost for your training as well as your own fundraising efforts.

If you are the team captain, you will be able to track your team’s progress and send motivational e-mails to your teammates via our platform.

Finally, registering as a team is also a great bonding experience, especially since all donations made to a team are divided equally among its members.

22. How can I update my personal information?

It’s easy! On the homepage, click on the red “Log in” button and enter your identifiers. Then select the “My profile” tab. You can edit your contact information here.

If you change your mailing address, remember to inform the Foundation to avoid incurring any delays (and additional fees) when you receive your reimbursement cheque.

Training Tips

23. Can I get tips to help me with my training?

In addition to the advice that you’ll receive from your race organizer in preparation for your race, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation will send you a monthly tip in cooperation with the kinesiologists and nutritionists at Centre Épic, an Institute affiliate.

In addition, the Cours pour le Coeur participant toolbox provides training programs for 5-km, 10-km and 21-km races.

Stay in Touch

24. How can I stay informed of Cours pour le Coeur events?

Follow us on the Cours pour le Coeur Facebook page and subscribe to the Fondation's newsletter.