How a Cross-Canada Bike Ride Fundraised 5X its Goal with a Giving Group

Dr. Alex DiGiacomo, a clinical psychologist from Vancouver who works with children, youths, and families, set out on a remarkable mission in 2023—to cycle across Canada and raise funds for youth mental health services. Through her #BreakTheCycle Giving Group, she sought to support multiple mental health-related charities in the provinces she rode through. With a Charitable Impact Giving Group, she was able to start fundraising immediately, engage her community, and add charities to the group throughout her campaign. Her journey raised five times her initial goal, built awareness surrounding youth mental health, and inspired others along the way. 

The story

Alex’s journey began as a deeply personal mission. As a clinical psychologist, she witnessed firsthand how many kids and families struggled to access the mental health care they desperately needed. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), three out of four children with a mental health issue can’t get the care they need—a statistic that weighed heavily on her.

One day, while reflecting on this issue, she recalled a conversation with her best friend’s father, who had cycled across Canada in 1993 as a tribute to his late wife. The idea struck her: She could embark on her own cross-country ride, not just as a test of endurance but as a way to shine a light on mental health accessibility and raise much-needed funds for charities making a difference.

Determined to turn her vision into reality, she mapped out her route from Vancouver to Halifax, knowing that along the way, she wanted to identify and support mental health charities in every province. However, she needed a fundraising platform that would allow her to start raising money immediately while still giving her the flexibility to choose charities as she met them throughout her ride.

That’s where Charitable Impact came in. The platform simplified the administrative and management side of fundraising. This gave Alex more time to spend on what she does best: building community, sharing stories, and inspiring others to give. Instead of getting bogged down in logistics, she could stay focused on the cause, her journey, and the connections she was making. What she got in return wasn’t just an easier way to give—it was the space to be fully present in the experience that mattered most to her.

The challenge

Alex needed a way to:

• Fundraise for multiple charities from one platform, with simple, centralized tax receipting for all donors.
• Keep the money she raised in one place while deciding which charities to support during her ride.
• Build and engage her audience, giving supporters a single place to follow her journey, track progress, and stay updated.
• Offer her supporters an easy way to give and track contributions.
• Provide transparency by clearly showing which charities received the money.  

During her search for a fundraising platform, Alex found that they often required her to pre-select charities at the start. This limited her ability to explore and choose organizations based on her experiences on the ground.

The Solution: Charitable Impact’s Giving Groups

Alex launched her #BreakTheCycle Giving Group through Charitable Impact. It allowed her to:

• Start fundraising immediately with a set goal of $10,000, later raised to $50,000. 
• Add charities as she went, selecting organizations in each province as she met them.
• Engage her supporters, including friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers, who could join and give to her Giving Group and share it with others.
• Provide full transparency, listing all supported charities on her page and keeping members informed with updates on contributions, the amount raised, and her progress.
• Keep her community engaged with notifications when money is distributed to charities.
• Ensure that donors receive an instant tax receipt, no matter how many charities benefit from the fundraiser.

The results

Alex’s Giving Group surpassed its goal. Her impact included:

• Funds raised: Raising over $51,000 in just six months (goal reached in December 2023, after launching in June 2023).
• The number of charities supported: 14 registered charities and qualified donees across Canada.
• Some of the charities included:
  • CMHA.
  • Kelty Foundation.
  • Variety – the Children’s Charity.
  • CASA Mental Health.
  • Jack.org.
  • Foster Family Coalition.
  • Family Services YWCA Agvik.
  • And many more!
• Ongoing impact: The Giving Group remains active, allowing continued fundraising beyond the ride.

Amplifying impact with a Giving Group

Alex maximized her fundraising success by:

• Actively promoting her Giving Group on Instagram and adding the group link to her profile.
• Providing a clear fundraising mission, allowing potential donors to understand why youth mental health access matters.
• Using visuals to tell her story, including photos, videos, and statistics on kids’ mental health needs.
• Keeping donors engaged by frequently updating her Giving Group page with fundraising details and stories.
• Create compelling descriptions and a Giving Group title to attract interest.

Alex’s journey across Canada demonstrated the power of community-driven giving. By using a Giving Group, she was able to fundraise on her terms, engage donors and her community transparently, and create an ongoing impact on youth mental health. Her story is an inspiring example of how anyone can use Giving Groups to raise funds for causes they care about in a meaningful and effective way. Whether it’s a cross-country ride, a birthday, a wedding, or any event that brings people together, Giving Groups make it easy for you to pool contributions and support the causes that matter most.

If you’re looking to rally like-minded people to fundraise and support a cause, consider setting up a Giving Group today.