Redditch wellbeing business partners with Reading charity to help fundraise

Redditch-based health and wellbeing platform, WellGiving, has teamed with Reading charity, Creating Better Futures, to help them fundraise.

The international development charity, dedicated to helping children in the Domboshowa and Mutare regions of Zimbabwe, are virtually traversing the 5,149 miles between Zimbabwe and Reading.

The challenge, named “Recreating Dorothy’s Journey”, honours the journey of the charity’s founder, Dorothy Dix, who came to Reading from Zimbabwe after receiving a scholarship to the University of Reading. Wanting to give back the gift of education, Dorothy created the non-profit organisation to provide access to education, and support projects improving agriculture and sanitation, while empowering local communities.

The WellGiving platform has provided an easy and convenient way for the charity to fundraise, allowing participants to simply pay a one-time sign-up fee to take part. The map feature means athletes can track their virtual progress across the globe, while the real-time leader boards and photo update features have been instrumental in keeping people motivated and engaged in the challenge.

WellGiving is designed with inclusivity at its heart, and the range of physical activities that can be converted into virtual miles offer something for everyone, with running, swimming, Zumba and even yoga all counting towards the 5000+ mile goal.

Athletes have already clocked an impressive 1,700 miles, and a whopping 25,900 minutes of exercise.

Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator of Creating Better Futures, Olivia Harvey said: “It was an absolute no-brainer to collaborate with WellGiving. It’s such an easy and accessible way to encourage physical activity whilst raising money for a good cause. Our participants love that they are helping us virtually travel through Africa to create the journey our CEO took when setting up our charity, and the virtual nature of the challenge means that supporters from all over the world can join in too!”

Lucy, one of the athletes participating in the fundraising challenge, commented: “My experience of using WellGiving has been nothing besides brilliant. The platform has allowed me to fundraise on my own terms, making it easy to fit into my daily life. Knowing that every step I am taking is making a difference has transformed the way I view exercise and made it a lot more fun.”

Mel, another of the participating athletes, confirmed: “Giving back always makes you feel good and WellGiving makes it so easy to give back! It leaves me feeling like I have really contributed to improving the lives of girls in Zimbabwe.”

Founder of WellGiving, Paul Rhodes, added: “The idea for the WellGiving platform came from the fact that exercise with a charity in mind is an incredible motivator, and has the power to turn ordinary people into superheroes.

“It’s so rewarding and satisfying to see the platform assist Creating Better Futures with their virtual journey through Africa and help them with their important fundraising efforts. I wish the participants the very best of luck in this and all of their future fitness and fundraising efforts!”

The Creating Better Future athletes are already 40 per cent of the way through their challenge, and are currently over the Central African Republic, almost at Chad.

The WellGiving platform, officially launched in January 2022 following a successful beta phase, is on track to raise in excess of £1 million for charities across the UK and beyond.