Period tracker and charitable running app win Webby Awards

A mobile fitness app that donates money to charity when users hit the pavement running, walking or biking and another that helps women keep track of their fertility are among the major health and fitness-related Webby Award winners. Winners were announced Monday for the 18th annual Webby Awards, an event that spotlights the best in digital media.

Taking the Webby Award in the category of mobile apps is Glow, a period-tracker that helps women pinpoint the most fertile -- and least fertile -- parts of their cycle. Cofounded by Paypal's Max Levchin and created with the help of medical advisors, the app uses a proprietary algorithm to forecast ovulation cycles and oncoming periods. It also provides tips on how to improve reproductive health and fertility, and personalized insights about the user's health based on her cycle and data entered. (Read: Paofit app: Now you can run with anyone you want anywhere!)

Though the app is pitched heavily towards women trying to conceive, it can also be used to avoid pregnancy. The People's Voice Award in the same category went to Charity Miles, which makes sponsored athletes of all users. After downloading the mobile app, users choose the charity they'd like to contribute their miles to and hit the streets. Bikers earn 10 cents a mile (1.6 km) while walkers and runners earn 25 cents a mile. (Read: Run smarter with this 'smart jacket')

Participating charities include the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Habitat for Humanity, The Nature Conservancy and Stand Up To Cancer. Donations are made by corporate sponsors Timex Sports, Humana and Lifeway Foods. A panel of more than a thousand web experts, captains of industry, creative celebrities and visionaries including actor Kevin Spacey, Arianna Huffington and Tumblr founder David Karp help sift through 12,000 entries from 60 countries around the world.

Here are other notable Webby Award winners in the category of health and fitness:

Web
Webby Award and People's Voice: WebMD

Interactive Advertising and Media
Webby Award and People's Voice Award: Achoo by Kleenex brand (a flu-tracker based on user's location)

Mobile & Apps
Webby Award: Glow
People's Voice Award: Charity Miles

Source: AFP

Image source: AFP

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