A mobile fundraising platform that raised over £900,000 for MND research.

Inspired by the late rugby player Doddie Weir, the campaign encourages people to log miles walked, run, or cycled during January, bringing communities together around a shared goal of movement and purpose.

When the foundation approached GearedApp, they wanted to transform a largely offline campaign into a digital experience that could scale participation, keep supporters motivated across the full challenge period, and make fundraising easier and more direct.

The challenge was delivering a platform that could support high participation, real-time engagement, and fundraising, all within a fixed deadline.

Participants needed an easy way to record activity consistently and see their progress build over time. But for a six-week challenge, logging miles alone is not enough. The experience needed to create momentum, encourage friendly competition, and reinforce the sense of shared purpose that makes Doddie Aid more than just a fitness goal.

At the same time, the platform had to support fundraising as a core part of the journey. Donations, Gift Aid, team creation, and merchandise needed to be integrated in a way that felt seamless, without pulling users out of the experience or introducing unnecessary friction.

We worked closely with the foundation team and delivery partners to design and build a mobile and web platform that became the digital hub for Doddie Aid.

Our approach focused on delivering a robust MVP quickly, prioritising the features that would drive participation and fundraising from day one, while keeping the foundations strong enough to evolve in future campaign cycles.

The platform supported iOS and Android users through a cross-platform mobile app, alongside a responsive web experience for participants who preferred not to use the app. Users could log their miles manually or via GPS tracking, helping people take part in ways that suited their routines and accessibility needs.

To strengthen motivation and community engagement, the platform included leagues and districts, allowing participants to join groups and take part in friendly competition through leaderboards. A built-in news feed also helped keep supporters connected to campaign updates and progress throughout the challenge.

Fundraising was integrated directly into the experience. Participants could donate within the platform, apply Gift Aid where relevant, and purchase campaign merchandise, making it easier to turn participation into meaningful financial support for the cause.

The platform changed Doddie Aid from something people participated in informally to something they could engage with consistently throughout the campaign.

Participants gained a structured, motivating way to track their activity, see their progress, and feel part of a shared effort. The social elements helped sustain engagement beyond the initial sign-up moment, while integrated fundraising tools made it easier for supporters to contribute financially as they took part.

For the foundation, the platform provided a scalable and reliable way to run the campaign, reduce reliance on manual processes, and create a consistent digital experience for thousands of people at once.

With a successful first campaign behind it, the platform now provides a strong base for future Doddie Aid challenges.

Next steps include refining GPS tracking, improving performance and resilience as participation grows, and enhancing social features to keep supporters engaged throughout the campaign. The fundraising experience will also continue to evolve, informed by real participant behaviour, feedback, and the foundation’s long-term goals.