# Funraisin introduces hybrid digital and real world fitness fundraising tools

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/02/22/funraisin-introduces-hybrid-digital-and-real-world-fitness-fundraising-tools/
- Published: 2021-02-22T17:39:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Events fundraising platform Funraisin has partnered with District Technologies
to offer a sponsored fundraising event experience that combines the digital and 
real worlds.**

Charity runners will be able to raise funds using GPS augmented reality tools enabling
them to explore and connect to new cities and locations. Runners can run a course
with others anywhere in the world, and the event experience can be enhanced with
new audio, video and augmented reality creative tools.

The aim is to offer a fundraising experience that is a major step forward from the
virtual events that charity supporters embraced as successive lockdowns halted traditional
mass fundraising events in 2020.

## Advertisement

[Funraisin and District Technologies](https://www.funraisin.co/funraisin-x-district)
are offering the technologies globally, seeing them as an engaging different kind
of fitness challenge for the year when movement restrictions begin to lift but not
enough to permit a return to mass participation events in most places. 

They describe as the collaboration as providing “an all-in-one digital experience
connecting fundraising, enhanced fitness experiences and personalised communications,
whether for virtual or in-person events.”
 

![Virtual fundraising just got real](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2021/02/
PR_3.jpg)

Funraisin and District’s new hybrid event fundraising tools

## New tools for charity runners

Fundraisers will have access to existing tools such as gamification, leaderboards
and distance tracking, but will also be able to use new tools such as GPS checkpoint
locations, virtual rewards, and access through ‘unlockables’ to rewards such as 
augmented reality camera filters. All the activity-based and user-generated content
link back to fundraising pages with live social feeds.

The new platform is designed to remove the need for fundraisers at charities and
event participants to access multiple platforms to experience the events they initiate
or sign up for. 

## Walking Stars

![Walking Stars - Australian fundraising event](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/
2021/02/PR_5-1024x536.jpg)

_Walking Stars – a virtual fundraising event using the new tools from funraisin 
and District Technologies_

Australian nonprofit Cancer Council used this technology at the end of 2020 to 
deliver its Walking Stars event.

Originally a physical event involving a night-time walking half marathon through
Melbourne CBD, the nonprofit switched it to a virtual event, enabling walkers to
take on a 21km challenge in their own neighbourhood.

With the average runner recording six fitness activities in the GPS app, and 82%
of participants using the app, the event raised over $180,000.

Keith Williams, CMO of **Funraisin**, said: “As we begin to get back to some new
levels of mass gathering events, the need for digital wont be less important, it
will be even more important for us all to advance digital offerings to meet consumers’
needs for deeper connected digital experiences with physical. If we thought our 
sector was under digital pressure before, tomorrow’s giving will be more intense
and we are excited about this challenge and how many more charities are coming to
us to help solve tomorrow’s giving.”

UK clients of Funraisin include Parkinsons UK , Pancreatic Cancer UK, and ABF The
Soldiers Charity.

Ben Pember, CEO of **District Technologies**, added: “Whether your virtual event
is a replacement for or a complement to a physical event, it must offer a compelling
customer experience which adds value to people’s lives. At District Technologies,
this is done by applying the most innovative tech available to customisable white-
label app solutions.”