Have you heard of Charity Miles? I haven’t until today, and now I’m somewhat motivated to get a smartphone. If you are not yet familiar with Charity Miles, it’s a free iPhone/Android app that enables people to earn money for charity when they walk, run or bike.  And I think I’d look pretty silly running down the road with my tablet.

The United Nations Foundation and social good fitness app Charity Miles are partnering for the Month of February in order to encourage people to help raise 10k just by downloading the app and participating in its virtual #VDay10k by talking a walk, run or bike ride. The #Vday10k challenge will run through the month of February when you’ll be able to donate your distance to a variety of United Nations Foundation campaigns.  The participating campaigns will include Girl Up, where your miles will help a teen girl in a developing country safely attend school, Nothing but Nets where you will help protect a family from malaria, and Shot@Life where your miles will help to provide life-saving vaccines to children around the world that need it most.

The concept is quite simple, all you need to do is download the Charity Miles app for free on your smartphone.  Then select the United Nations Foundation campaign of your choice and whether you will be walking, running or biking. Please pick Shot@Life, which is near and dear to my heart. As a 2013 Shot@Life Champion, it would be great if you could donate to them.

Charity Miles will donate 25 cents for every mile you walk or run, and 10 cents for every mile you bike.  At the end of your activity, you will be told how your donated miles will help the charity you’ve chosen.  Social media is integrated into the app, so you can share the good that you’ve done with your friends on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #VDay10k.
At the end of the month, The UN Foundation will feature the person who raises the most for the #VDay10k on its website and Facebook page.