The Peterborough Butterfly Run Returns

April 26th, 2026.

Celebrating Its 10th Anniversary!

To donate, please click here

On April 26th, the annual Peterborough Butterfly Run, presented by the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) in partnership with Partners In Pregnancy Clinic (PIPC), took place in Millennium Park. Since 2017 the event has supported families and individuals who have experienced a loss during pregnancy, the loss of a child, or are unable to conceive.

This year marked the 10th anniversary for the event.  The Peterborough Butterfly Run has always been about bringing people together to support each other.  This year, more people came together then ever before.  Run day saw over 1400 people registered in one of the 3 events (1km Memorial Walk, 1km Kids Fun Run, 5km Run/Walk) with hundreds more there to support them.   A 5km Run/Walk record was also set with 840 people taking part.  Overall, there was close to 25% more people taking part in one of the 3 events then have ever attended a Peterborough Butterfly Run in the past. It is a truly humbling amount of support, especially for the 10th year.  This is reflective of the caring community we have in the Peterborough area.

Although donations are still coming in, as of noon on April 27th the 2026 Peterborough Butterfly Run raised over $97,000. The top three individual fundraisers are Lori Brock, Baldeep Paul and Alex Lloyd. The top three fundraising teams are Angels’ by Our Side, Team Jess and Angeline Dalliday, and Friends of Frederick. Thank you to all the fundraisers and donors for your hard work and support of the mission of the run. 

Ashley Weir and Kori Zwarych, the co-chairs of the Peterborough Butterfly Run Executive Committee, announced that over 1000 bereavement kits have been made and distributed through out the community.  As well, the run will be supporting the Compassionate Care Symposium happening at PRHC in June, which is an educational opportunity for clinicians in our area to learn how to better support Perinatal Bereavement Care.  The committee are also working to hold more bereavement retreats and continue to work to expand supports available in our area.  Money will also continue to be reinvesting into the Peterborough Butterfly Run event to make sure each year our community can come together to support each other.

Thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work making the event happen. Thank you as well to the 2026 Peterborough Butterfly Run sponsors, including; Pyle Wealth Advisory – CIBC Private Wealth, Runners Life, Opus Tribute Group – Highland Park Funeral Services, Renegade Apparel, Peterborough County Medical Society, Mommy Connections, Peterborough Kawartha Lakes, Nexicom, Dominion Lending Centres, Morellos Independent, The Entertainment Group  Apple Self Storage, Synergistix Partners in Health and Culligan

If you would like to donate, find out more about the Peterborough Butterfly Run, or contact someone with the run, please visit www.PTBOButterflyRun.ca

For more information, please contact Vince Bierworth at Vince@GPHSF.ca or 705 740 8074 ext. 101.

Photos From the 2026 Peterborough Butterfly Run  Photo Credit Harrison Perkins 

Funds raised at the event have been used to provide ongoing specialized education in Perinatal Bereavement Care to healthcare providers across Peterborough City and County, establish more than 10 lending libraries for individuals and their families located across Peterborough City and County, as well as the development of bereavement kits for families and individuals who experience early and later pregnancy loss and infant loss. Since 2018, more than 800 bereavement kits have been provided to families and individuals by health care providers with the Peterborough Family Health Team and PRHC.  

Our Bereavement kits are put together and distributed by a group of volunteers. They contain comfort items, memorabilia, and grief support. They are distributed by health care providers with the Peterborough Family Health Team, PRHC, local physicians and mental health clinicians. They may also be requested by email at ptbobutterflyrunkits@gmail.com 

For more details email  Vince@GPHSF.ca

Contact the GPHSF: