United in Movement Rallies The Community to Raise $400K

The first-ever United in Movement (UiM) charity competition and fitness challenge wrapped up just over a week ago, and now the significant financial impact of the initiative is coming into focus as we speak. A collective effort to raise relief funds for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge kicked things off with an ambitious 24-hour livestream featuring athletes, hosts, and celebrities from around the world.

That was just the beginning: Daily live workout announcements and demos from the biggest names in the community kept content and fitness flowing for anyone choosing to join the movement.

• Mat Fraser and Tia-Clair Toomey led things off by demonstrating the first workout, followed by Pat Vellner, Brent Fikowski, Rasmus Anderson, Lauren Fisher, Chandler Smith, Noah Ohlsen, The Buttery Bros, Scott Panchik, Ben Bergeron, and Katrin Davidsdottir.
• In honor of Giancarlo Agostino Di Maria, a Sanctionals judge who passed away in March due to complication from COVID-19, a special memorial workout was created.

But the real focus was the charitable financial efforts by the movement in order to raise money for the Red Cross, Action Against Hunger, and The CrossFit Foundation, the three beneficiaries for the funds raised. The collective efforts of brands and companies throughout the campaign was impressive.

• NoBull donated an initial $100,000, and through the production of a special UiM shoe colorway, their total contribution will potentially be twice that.
• WIT Fitness raised $25,000 through their online charity auction that feature memorabilia like the lifters that Tia-Clair Toomey wore to win the 2019 Clean Ladder in Madison.
• GoWOD donated $18,168 which equated to $1 for every mobility protocol done on the GoWOD app during the fundraiser.
• Chipotle donated $1 for every Mat Fraser & Tia-Clair Toomey signature burrito bowl to the tune of $10,000 in total.
• California Giant Berry Farms made a straight-up $10,000 donation to the cause and Hyperice donated a portion of proceeds from sales resulting in at least $15,000.
• RPM jump ropes, Move Fast Lift Heavy, DOCAFF, and Born Primitive all contributed through sales of exclusive UiM merchandise created for the fundraiser.

In total, donations are expected to exceed $400,000 from a campaign that was imagined, brought to life, and executed in just three weeks. The final total is still being updated as we speak, and the funds are being distributed accordingly to the three charities, but United in Movement showed just how quickly and effectively the community can circle the wagons in a time of unprecedented need.

Donations are still being accepted and anyone interested can contribute to the campaign.