TORONTO, March 4 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Jumpstart® has launched a fundraising and awareness campaign called 'Jump to South Africa'. The program encourages Canadian teens to raise funds for Canadian Tire Jumpstart in exchange for a chance to earn a trip for two to the Coca Cola 2010 Soccer Camp in South Africa. The top fundraiser will be awarded the trip which includes two tickets to a World Cup match.

The unique campaign focuses on soccer and encourages Canadian teens to raise funds for Jumpstart, which shines a light on the financial limitations of sports participation for one out of three Canadian families. Running until April 18th, the funds raised through 'Jump to South Africa' will benefit more than 65,000 kids supported by Jumpstart each year, who otherwise might not have access to sport.

"This program provides an opportunity to educate people about the realities and challenges that many Canadians face when it comes to involving their kids in sports," said Dan Thompson, president, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. "Soccer is commonly viewed as one of the world's most accessible sports, but the costs for registration, transportation, a uniform, and shoes can still be a barrier for a significant number of Canadian families. The 'Jump to South Africa' campaign is a fun way to inspire teens to make a difference in the lives of their peers."

Since its launch in 2005, Canadian Tire Jumpstart has helped give more than 216,500 financially disadvantaged kids across Canada the chance to play. To get involved in the 'Jump to South Africa' campaign, visit www.jumptosouthafrica.ca - a fun and interactive site where fundraisers can set goals, share links, upload photos or personal videos, and personalize fundraising messages.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart® is a community-based charitable program that helps underprivileged kids across Canada aged 4-18 participate in organized sports and recreation by covering costs such as registration fees, transportation and equipment. To date, there are 279 Canadian Tire Jumpstart chapters in communities across the country and more than 216,500 kids have been helped by the program.