Time to highlight an altrusitic app, one that makes charitable giving just that little bit easier. Cancer Research UK has teamed up with developers Dare (in collaboration with mobile specialists, Mobile Platforms), bringing you an app that maximises the impact of its annual Race for Life, by helping users raise funds more easily. Each year almost 550,000 participants take part in the annual fundraiser at 300 selected events across the UK. The women-only events generate over £526 million that goes towards vital research.

So how exactly does the app work? Well it's about transforming the way 'participants manage sponsorship efforts' in a bid to raise even more vital funds. A huge variety of functionalities have been employed to achieve this aim. Firstly the app integrates with payment engine, JustGiving, which means you can keep track of payments more easily, there's the latest Race for Life news tailored to your event, with tons of helpful information as well as a countdown to race day.


Then there's the ability to share personalised images and messages with friends and family, mark sponsorship milestones, or should you so wish share your Just Text Giving code via SMS for easier sponsorship. There are some apps which require an inordinate amount of time merely to set up, but this one's an example of minimum input, maximum output. As Emma Hyatt, head of Race for Life says, 'We know that people who sign up for Race for Life often struggle to sustain fundraising momentum and miss out on hitting the personal targets they’d set themselves. What’s more, people find it difficult to promote what they are doing to friends in creative and interesting ways with the little free time they have. The app is designed to fix both those problems; it keeps participants motivated throughout by nudging, reminding and rewarding you.'

To download, raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org.
April 2014