If you aren’t walking, running, or biking on a regular basis, you’re really missing out—it’s good for you, it saves money, it benefits the environment, and everybody’s doing it. Need another reason? You can now earn money for charity every time you walk, run, or bike, all via your smartphone.
Working up a sweat for a good cause isn’t exactly a new idea—just ask anyone who’s participated in the AIDS Walk or a similar event. But the creators of CharityMiles, a new app for iPhones and Android devices, have come up with a way for anyone who walks, runs, or bikes to connect with corporate sponsors at any time. It’s a simple system—download the free app, choose from one of nine participating charities, and start moving. For every mile you walk or run, 25 cents go to your charity. Biking, meanwhile, nets a dime per mile. Those aren’t huge sums, but if hundreds of thousands—maybe millions—of people download the app? The nickels and dimes might start to add up.
CharityMiles still has some work to do, including attracting more charities. The company is putting up the initial $1 million in funding itself, and while its creators are confident that they will attract several corporate sponsors soon, that probably depends on enough people downloading the app. CharityMiles is also a for-profit company, and its creators say they’re not yet sure how they’re going to make money.
Whether or not CharityMiles gets more funding or reels in more charities, it’s certainly an innovative way to encourage sustainable living and aid good causes. If you’re already someone who walks, runs, or bikes, scoring some money for your favorite cause at the same time is a no-brainer.
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