Fitness fundraiser Compete for Causes supports Make-A-Wish

Compete for Causes, a local fundraising organization focused on fitness, recently got people exercising and burning calories to raise $20,270 for Make-A-Wish San Diego and its efforts to help kids fighting critical illnesses.

“The average grant costs about $10,000, so with our October event, we enabled two more children to receive wishes here in San Diego,” said Compete for Causes Co-Founder Jeff Szekeres. “That is fulfilling for all of us.”

Compete for Causes promotes a healthy lifestyle for its participants all while giving back to a charitable cause. In the 18-day competition held in October, participants used an Apple iPhone to track and try to meet their daily individual fitness goals on the Fitness app. The more people who closed their red “Move” ring that measures active calories, the more pledge donation money went to charity. In addition to raising funds, the participants burned a total of 1,647,000 calories.

Founded last year by a group of local men, Compete for Causes has now run five competitions, each one growing in participation numbers. A competition in the spring brought in $104,883 spread out between four charities including the Mayo Clinic, Bridge for Kids, Sanford Burnham Prebys and ConnectMed.

Szekeres said for their October challenge they broke their participant record with 116 participants and 73% achieving their customized fitness goals. The competition raised $20,270 for Make-A-Wish San Diego, including about $16,000 from pledge commitments and $4,000 from the participants.

Corporate sponsors included Vital Core Health Strategies, GML Tax Services, Burgeon Beer, StoneSteps Real Estate, EXP Journeys, RoadRunner Sports, Fleet Feet, SUPConnect, Randolph Family Dental, Vuori and Sweat Circuit’s Del Mar gym.

“Make-A-Wish San Diego transforms lives, one wish at a time, and its brand and mission are well known to our repeat participants who enjoy charitable giving,” said Szekeres, a Solana Beach resident. “By partnering with Make-A-Wish San Diego for our fitness fundraiser, we’re not just promoting physical health—we’re helping to grant wishes that can give children the emotional and physical strength to fight their illnesses.”

Compete for Causes is gearing up for another fitness fundraiser starting in January 2025. To learn more, visit competeforcauses.com.