Team Amazing Athletes Makes Every Mile Count with Charity Miles

FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Sept. 18, 2014 - PRLog -- Amazing Athletes' Charity Miles team is making every mile count as the team quickly nears its 2,000-mile marker goal to raise much-needed funds for various charities around the globe. For every mile the team bikes, hikes or runs, a donation is made to a charity of each athlete’s choice based on his distance traveled.

Amazing Athletes franchise owners Lee Collins of Arizona, Chris Raykovich of Idaho, and Michael Amberg of Oklahoma are improving their own health while making a difference in the lives of others by harnessing the power of the cause-driven Charity Miles app, which tracks how far each team member walks, bikes or runs, raising money for charity with each and every mile.

Here’s how it works:

     1.   Download the free Charity Miles app on Android or iPhone

     2.   Select a charity before completing your exercise

     3.   Choose “run”, “bike” or “walk”

     4.   Press “start”, then hit the pavement

     5.   When you’re finished, press “stop” and share your achievements

Lee Collins, owner of Amazing Athletes of Arizona, was the first of his teammates to download Charity Miles, which he uses while training for his first Ironman Triathlon in November. As he gears up for the race -- which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile full marathon – he simply taps “start” on his app to raise money for the charity of his choice.

“Charity Miles has helped me mentally during training,” he said. “Prior to my Ironman training, my longest run was five miles and my longest bike ride was about 15 miles on a mountain bike. Years prior, I was 40 pounds overweight and had never done an endurance event.”

Despite nearing 1,000 miles alone on the mobile app, Collins doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

“During the long bike rides or runs, I sometimes tell myself that I'm doing this workout for more than just me; I'm actually helping the charity of my choice, which is usually Autism Speaks. I can honestly say this helps me get through the rough patches of training and pushes me those extra miles,” he said.

Amazing Athletes of the Inland NW owner and longtime cyclist, Chris Raykovich, downloaded the app after learning about it through his fellow Amazing Athletes franchise owners at the youth sports enrichment program’s national conference this June.

“I'm an avid cyclist. When Michael and Lee told me about Charity Miles and that I could raise money for charity while I am on my rides, I immediately asked them to download the app on my phone and set me up," said Raykovich. "It's fantastic that we can not only improve our lives through cardiovascular exercise, but make an impact on others through the Charity Miles program.”

Michael Amberg began using the app earlier this year, typically running for one of his favorite charities, Autism Speaks.

“Since I run regularly anyway -- and all I had to do was turn on the app while I run -- it was an easy decision for me to make. It’s very easy to do and doesn’t cost me anything," he said. "Typically, I run for Autism Speaks since we have had numerous kids in our classes that are on different levels of the autism spectrum.”

Amazing Athletes and Charity Miles’ missions go hand-in-hand. With numerous child- and health-related nonprofits to choose from on the app’s donation platform – such as Partnership for a Healthier America, Autism Speaks and Achilles International -- both organizations can get behind the idea that changing the world is a team sport.

“When my wife, Diana, and I bought our Amazing Athletes franchise five years ago, our mission was to make such a positive impact in children’s lives that they will stay active for many, many years,” said Collins. “We are not only doing this in our day-to-day business, but by staying active ourselves and giving back through Charity Miles, it feels good we are living out our mission.”

Charity Miles is free and available for download on iTunes or Google Play. For more information about Charity Miles, visit www.charitymiles.org.

About Amazing Athletes:

Amazing Athletes was founded in 2003 as a year-round sports-based youth fitness program helmed by trained coaches who teach children the fundamentals and mechanics of nine different sports including baseball, golf, hockey, volleyball, tennis, football, lacrosse, soccer and basketball. At the core of each class are developmental sports lessons, which focus on improving hand-eye coordination, flexibility, muscle tone, balance and speed and agility with the measurable aim of achieving key motor development goals and milestones. The activities within each class teach more than just the basics of each sport, but the program also teaches children fundamental life skills through sport. Amazing Athletes works diligently to ensure its classes allow every child – no matter his or her ability, age or skill level – to build skills at their own pace within a non-competitive, learning-based environment that emphasizes patience, teamwork and self-confidence. To learn more about Amazing Athletes and its franchise opportunities, visit www.AmazingAthletes.com or call toll-free at (888) 228-3942.

About Charity Miles:

Charity Miles is an iPhone and Android app that help you change the world by earning corporate sponsorships for charity when you walk, run or bike. Just choose a charity and hit the streets. As you walk, run or bike, the app will measure your distance and you will earn money for your charity: 10¢ per mile for bikers; 25¢ per mile for walkers and runners, all courtesy of our corporate sponsors like Timex Sports, Humana and Lifeway Foods. We’re not just about earning money for charity; we’re about carrying a purpose in our hearts and telling stories through our actions. Because we believe that action speaks louder than words, and changing the world is a team sport. For more information about Charity Miles, visit www.charitymiles.org.