If EVER you run or walk, please read

Livgetfit
Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
If you run or walk, even infrequently, and you bring your phone with you please consider downloading the Charity Miles app.

Every time you workout, you select a charity. The app matches you with a corporate sponsor like Johnson & Johnson or Timex and these companies donate to the charity based on how much mileage you cover when the app GPS tracks your activity.

I don't live in the US but I still get to pick a charity that means something to me based on its mission. Many of them have a global reach too.

Last week I raised nearly $10 just by moving my *kitten*. That is $520 annual to my charity - another good reason to pound the pavement.

Please consider getting this fabulous app and helping others while you help your body!

Love,

Liv

(P.S I always run for the Michael J Fox Foundation as Parkinson's is on both sides of my family and would love it if you'd occasional choose them)
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Replies

  • edub12345
    edub12345 Posts: 1 Member
    I hope this is legit! Downloading now :)
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    edited March 2016
    edub12345 wrote: »
    I hope this is legit! Downloading now :)

    Yay! I told myself that if I even got one person to do this it'd be a successful post!

    It really is legit. Swear no spam. I'm just really passionate about giving back and especially about finding a cure for Parkinson's. We have lost 2 of my granduncles and 2 of my grandaunts on my dad's side, my grandmother has it (dad's mom) and my grandfather on my mother's side was diagnosed 2 years ago.

    Apparently the app also works if you use a treadmill but I only run outside so I don't know how that works.
  • mel35645
    mel35645 Posts: 267 Member
    I live in the us will it work here? It sounds amazing not sure why I haven't heard of it before?
  • liftsalltheweights
    liftsalltheweights Posts: 73 Member
    How can you be absolutely sure they're donating to the charity you've selected and not just pocketing the money? My guess is there's really no way to know.

    I'll continue my donations to a local charity where I actually know the people the money is helping.
  • autumnblade75
    autumnblade75 Posts: 1,661 Member
    edited March 2016
    There's no way to know what they're actually doing with the money - but it was never my money to begin with. The app just allows you to allocate funds that they have designated for donation, anyway. You don't lose anything, and potentially you cause these businesses to donate more than otherwise to the cause you prefer.

    ETA: There's a similar app for pet shelters - you can even run them simultaneously. I'm not affiliated, yadda, yadda... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actionxl.wooftrax.wfad
  • ames105
    ames105 Posts: 288 Member
    Thank you for sharing!
  • autumnblade75
    autumnblade75 Posts: 1,661 Member
    Livgetfit wrote: »
    Apparently the app also works if you use a treadmill but I only run outside so I don't know how that works.

    They use the accelerometer in your phone, so you can't just rest it on the treadmill - you'll need an armband or pocket. (The GPS works better.)
  • richmond2410
    richmond2410 Posts: 34 Member
    do you have to have a data plan for the gps to work?
    I don't have data on my phone, but I can use the wifi in my building for apps.
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    autumnblade75 wrote: »
    There's no way to know what they're actually doing with the money - but it was never my money to begin with. The app just allows you to allocate funds that they have designated for donation, anyway. You don't lose anything, and potentially you cause these businesses to donate more than otherwise to the cause you prefer.

    ETA: There's a similar app for pet shelters - you can even run them simultaneously. I'm not affiliated, yadda, yadda... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actionxl.wooftrax.wfad

    Thanks, I'll be downloading this one :)
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    liftsalltheweights wrote: »
    How can you be absolutely sure they're donating to the charity you've selected and not just pocketing the money? My guess is there's really no way to know.

    I'll continue my donations to a local charity where I actually know the people the money is helping.

    Hi I understand your skepticism but I tweet each of my runs with the prep-populated message which the app generates. It automatically tags both the sponsor & the charity in the tweet and the Michael J Fox Foundation always like those post so I very much doubt they are not getting the money. I can't imagine they'd be supportive if they were getting screwed.

    All the best with your donations. I will continue to make mine and run this app for a little something extra!
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    richmond2410 wrote: »
    do you have to have a data plan for the gps to work?
    I don't have data on my phone, but I can use the wifi in my building for apps.

    I have very little data so I always turn mine off when I am out of the range of wifi and have been able to run the app. If you are worried about it using your data I'd suggest you turn off "mobile data" the first time you use it to check it isn't using your data! :-)

    Thanks for being open to giving it a try
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    mel35645 wrote: »
    I live in the us will it work here? It sounds amazing not sure why I haven't heard of it before?

    It is a US app so you should have no problems at all. I use it in Australia and it is fine, because my charity is global.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    What systems are compatible with the app? My phones consist of Black Berry and Windows 8... so I can't use Android or Apple (bah).
  • VoiceWithNoValue
    VoiceWithNoValue Posts: 58 Member
    I'm going to download this app(and the app for pet shelter) soon. Thanks for sharing!
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    VeryKatie wrote: »
    What systems are compatible with the app? My phones consist of Black Berry and Windows 8... so I can't use Android or Apple (bah).

    Unfortunately, according to the website, apple and android only :neutral:

    http://www.charitymiles.org/
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    VoiceWithNoValue wrote: »
    I'm going to download this app(and the app for pet shelter) soon. Thanks for sharing!

    No reason they can't both be run simultaneously!
  • WeekendWarriorTX
    WeekendWarriorTX Posts: 1,844 Member
    man, i run with an old phone that has all my music on it, not my new one. I may have to find an armband to fit my new phone just to use this app. My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago so I will definitely be hitting MJF's charity up. Thank you for posting this.
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    WeekendWarriorTX wrote: »
    man, i run with an old phone that has all my music on it, not my new one. I may have to find an armband to fit my new phone just to use this app. My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago so I will definitely be hitting MJF's charity up. Thank you for posting this.

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad. What I love about MJFF is that they are all about finding the cure.

    p.s I got my band for like $9 on ebay. Quality export of China :smiley:
  • WeekendWarriorTX
    WeekendWarriorTX Posts: 1,844 Member
    Livgetfit wrote: »
    WeekendWarriorTX wrote: »
    man, i run with an old phone that has all my music on it, not my new one. I may have to find an armband to fit my new phone just to use this app. My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago so I will definitely be hitting MJF's charity up. Thank you for posting this.

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad. What I love about MJFF is that they are all about finding the cure.

    p.s I got my band for like $9 on ebay. Quality export of China :smiley:

    Just purchased the same one you have, most likely. Also downloading the app.
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    WeekendWarriorTX wrote: »
    Livgetfit wrote: »
    WeekendWarriorTX wrote: »
    man, i run with an old phone that has all my music on it, not my new one. I may have to find an armband to fit my new phone just to use this app. My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago so I will definitely be hitting MJF's charity up. Thank you for posting this.

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad. What I love about MJFF is that they are all about finding the cure.

    p.s I got my band for like $9 on ebay. Quality export of China :smiley:

    Just purchased the same one you have, most likely. Also downloading the app.

    Wahoo, power in numbers!
  • PBWaffleCakes
    PBWaffleCakes Posts: 900 Member
    Looking it up!
  • Dovekat
    Dovekat Posts: 263 Member
    Sounds cool looking it up, I don't drive so I walk everywhere not so much on the running bit yet. I also work in elderly frail / nursing / dementia so I am on the front lines for a lot of the illnesses these charities support.
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    Dovekat wrote: »
    Sounds cool looking it up, I don't drive so I walk everywhere not so much on the running bit yet. I also work in elderly frail / nursing / dementia so I am on the front lines for a lot of the illnesses these charities support.

    Thank you for your amazing work!
  • mkakids
    mkakids Posts: 1,913 Member
    I love Charity Miles! Its a great ap....I do find though that the distances can be off. So I dont use to to log my own personal miles...I wear a garmin too.
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    mkakids wrote: »
    I love Charity Miles! Its a great ap....I do find though that the distances can be off. So I dont use to to log my own personal miles...I wear a garmin too.

    100% agree
  • fithealthygirl
    fithealthygirl Posts: 290 Member
    Thanks for sharing! This will be even more motivation for me to log those miles.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    Interesting...thank you for sharing.

    I linked my FitBit to the Walgreens Wellness program and have earned $15 worth of points in the last six months just from walking. I don't get prescriptions from Walgreens or buy much else there, but they don't seem to care.

    I wonder how many other similar programs there are around that tie fitness to rewards of some sort.
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    azulvioleta6 wrote: »
    Interesting...thank you for sharing.

    I linked my FitBit to the Walgreens Wellness program and have earned $15 worth of points in the last six months just from walking. I don't get prescriptions from Walgreens or buy much else there, but they don't seem to care.

    I wonder how many other similar programs there are around that tie fitness to rewards of some sort.

    Would be good to know, it motivates me for sure. I'm currently also focused on getting out of the Green group on Nike Running. On 341km to go!
  • alp_19
    alp_19 Posts: 54 Member
    Thanks so much for sharing! It was just the motivation I was looking for this morning as I was debating a run :) I donated $0.64 to She's the First (a non-profit I love) and got a nice run in. So excited to use this for every run and see how much I can donate this year.
  • PaigeInTechnicolor
    PaigeInTechnicolor Posts: 164 Member
    Yes, thank you. I don't do much walking/running, but maybe I will more often, knowing it's for a good cause. Motivation is a splendid thing!

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