Calling all runners: The Wings for Life World Run is on the verge of breaking its own record for largest running event in the world, and runners everywhere can make it happen by registering to participate on May 5, 2024. They’ll also be helping to raise record funding to find a cure for spinal cord injury, and as a recent research summit showed, progress is accelerating toward that goal.
Just days from now, the 11th edition of the largest and most inclusive running event in the world – the Wings for Life World Run – will take off at locations across the globe, and the running community is on tenterhooks to see if the event can break its own 2023 record of 206,728 registered participants. Only a few more registrations are needed, and with 100% of entry fees going to spinal cord research, the time is now to sign up and join a historic day of fun and excitement on May 5.
Gathering of researchers supported by 100% of run proceeds reveals promising results
The Wings for Life World Run is the primary fundraiser for the non-profit Wings for Life foundation, which funds promising research and clinical trials to find a cure for spinal cord injury. Every bit of the run’s entry fees goes directly to these cutting-edge projects, which are already changing lives.
In April, the foundation hosted the annual Wings for Life Scientific Meeting in Salzburg, Austria, bringing together 95 elite researchers from 15 countries – all focused on research and clinical trials that Wings for Life helps to support. The purpose of the two-day meeting was for these experts to share their latest findings, network and establish connections that could further benefit their work at institutions such as Harvard Medical School (USA), Balgrist University Hospital (Switzerland), Yale University (USA) and Maastricht University Medical Center (Netherlands), to name just a few.
At this year’s meeting, pioneers of spinal cord research met the next generation of scientific trailblazers. Medical history was written as yet-unpublished results of studies that had been ongoing for years were presented, and ambitious up-and-coming talents – including a significant number of female researchers – provided exciting new perspectives. In all, 54 presentations were delivered, 30 of which contained the latest findings from Wings for Life-funded researchers.
Dr. Faith Brennan, PhD, who has established the Neurotrauma Lab at Queen’s University in Canada, said, “The Wings for Life Scientific Meeting is an exciting opportunity to network with other amazing scientists and exchange ideas and really move the field forward. It’s important to network with people to understand the cutting-edge research that’s going on, and the more we can communicate as research is ongoing, the more we can troubleshoot and improve our science as it’s progressing.”
Professor Doctor (Med.) Armin Curt, medical director of the Spinal Cord Injury Centre at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland and Wings for Life clinical director, conveyed a message for everyone who takes part in the Wings for Life World Run, saying, “Spinal cord injury is a disaster to the body. Thanks to your generosity, we are actually able to help patients – and we do help patients in your name. We are very thankful for your gracious support.”
About the run
The Wings for Life World Run has a unique format where people of all fitness levels succeed as they are chased by the beloved “Catcher Car” moving finish line. Participants worldwide start simultaneously and run either individually with the Wings for Life World Run App or together in one of several Flagship Runs. Once the Catcher Car passes them, their race is complete, and the last man and woman to be caught are named the global champions.
Best of all, 100% of entry fees and donations goes directly to spinal cord research. In the editions of the Wings for Life World Run that have been completed to date, a total of 1,293,716 registered participants from 195 nationalities ran, walked and rolled on all seven continents and together raised a total of €43.8 million to find a cure for spinal cord injury.
Ones to watch on May 5
In the men’s competition, Jo Fukuda of Japan will try to become the first to be named global champion three times in a row, while Kasia Szkoda of Poland will aim to defend the women’s crown.
Stars from other sports as well as entertainment will also be supporting the cause on Sunday, such as football’s Neymar Jr (BRA), sailing’s Jimmy Spithill (AUS), rugby’s Siya Kolisi (RSA), MotoGP’s Marc Márquez (ESP) and Dani Pedrosa (ESP), surfing’s Carissa Moore (USA), trials rider Fabio Wibmer (AUT), triathlete Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR), fencing’s Miles Chamley-Watson (GBR/USA), rally racing’s Sébastien Loeb (FRA) and Carlos Sainz Sr (ESP), cycling’s Tom Pidcock (GBR), cricket’s Ben Stokes (GBR), skiing’s Lindsey Vonn (USA) and hurdler Karsten Warholm (NOR).
Bjørn Gulden, adidas CEO says, “I am very happy that adidas is now part of this fantastic event. To me, the Wings for Life World Run is a great example of what good sport can do for the world. So count me in for the run on May 5, and I am sure many adidas colleagues from around the world will join as well.”
How to follow the run
It’s easy to follow friends and family who are running for those who can’t by going to the Wings for Life World Run Live Experience 2024 at www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com. Track them, cheer them with audio stickers, spot them in live video feeds and feel part of the event through interviews and more.
How to register and take part
There’s still time to sign up, help Wings for Life World Runners set a new record and bring researchers even closer to finding a cure for spinal cord injury. Everyone who registers will receive the official Wings for Life World Run shirt, an adidas functional T-shirt bearing a commemorative design.
The Wings for Life World Run takes off simultaneously around the world on Sunday, May 5, 2024, and registration will remain open until one hour before the start time of 11:00 am UTC. For more information on the run, and to register, visit www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com.
QUOTES:
Professor Doctor (Med.) Armin Curt, medical director of the Spinal Cord Injury Centre at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland; Wings for Life clinical director: “The central nervous system is a very eloquent, very well organized, very sophisticated and really difficult system. Any damage within this system is difficult to repair. To approach such an aim … you need to have an environment which is very much supportive. And these ambitions are very high, so you need to have a strong team, a multi-faceted team. You need to have many people, interdisciplinary people. You need to create an environment which is stimulating. Which is helping. Which is provoking. Which is using healthy competition for the best. And this is something that Wings for Life is doing very well.”
Professor Doctor (Med.) Manuel Friese, director of the Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg – Eppendorf, Germany; Wings for Life Scientific Advisory Board member: “The best thing is to discuss with young scientists the exciting findings which they have generated in the lab, and to see a new thing for the first time that nobody else has seen before. The [Wings for Life Scientific Meeting] is important because I think we need to have a joint effort, really, to tackle this problem. And that, I think, is the core essence of this meeting.”
Dr. Jan Schwab, MD, professor in neuroscience at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, USA; scientific director of Wings for Life: “Runners, thank you for doing what you’re doing in supporting Wings for Life. With that support we are enabled to do things which are new, and novel, and have the perspective to change the outcome for patients with spinal cord injury already in the mid-term. Your support is essential for Wings for Life, so keep up the good work.”
Anita Gerhardter, CEO, Wings for Life: “The annual Wings for Life Scientific Meeting is a gathering of the brightest minds you can find in neuroscience, and they exchange their knowledge once a year here in Salzburg. It’s so special because all of the funded scientists are in one place, and the exchange – the networking – that happens here is amazing. It really helps us to progress and to form collaborations. For spinal cord research, the Wings for Life World Run acts like a turbo, because with the money earned from the Wings for Life World Run we can fund many more, and bigger, projects.”
Colin Jackson, British hurdling legend and Wings for Life World Run International Sports Director: “The Wings for Life World Run is always about having a great day out, but I can sense something extra special about this edition. And when we break our previous record, everyone who takes part will share in the joy of making a real difference for people around the world.”
Karsten Warholm, record-breaking Olympic, world and European champion in hurdles (Norway): “The Wings for Life World Run is an important run for a good cause, and everybody participating is a winner.”
Fabio Wibmer, trailblazing trials rider (Austria): “Spinal cord injuries can change your life completely. I´m happy that Wings for Life is pushing to find a way to cure this. If we all can contribute to it by running, let’s go and run for those who can’t!”
Adriano de Souza, surfing great (Brazil): “The Wings for Life World Run supports an important cause, and every year I try to be as involved as I can. Running is part of my training as a surfer, even though I don’t run long distances, and this year I’m supporting the Wings for Life World Run with my own team.”
Courage Adams, pro BMX star (Spain): “All the years I have run this race, I have seen the passion. It is truly incredible, the commitment that the Wings for Life foundation has for a cure. I believe that – between all of us – we are making sure that one day it will be found.”
London Lazerson, content creator and social media personality (USA): “Spinal cord injuries can happen to anyone. I run for those who can’t and support the Wings for Life foundation because doing so means we are one step closer to finding a cure.”
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About the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation
Worldwide, millions of people are dependent on a wheelchair after having sustained a spinal cord injury, most often as the result of a traffic accident or a fall. Wings for Life is a not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation with the single mission to find a cure for spinal cord injury. Since 2004, Wings for Life has funded life-changing research projects and clinical trials around the globe. While a cure is still to be found, steady progress has been made. Every step taken at the Wings for Life World Run is a step in the right direction, because 100% of entry fees and donations goes to spinal cord research: www.wingsforlife.com.
About the Wings for Life World Run
Once a year, the Wings for Life World Run takes place around the globe. All participants start at the same time worldwide and run either individually with the Wings for Life World Run App or together in several Flagship Runs. The best part is that any form of the run is all about being there. It doesn’t matter how well, fast or far you run, whether you’re a professional athlete, hobby runner or an absolute beginner. It is all about having fun while running. For this reason there is no traditional finish line. Instead, 30 minutes after the start, either a virtual or – in the case of the Flagship Runs – a real Catcher Car picks up the chase and overtakes one runner after another. Results aren’t measured in time, but in distance achieved. Best of all: 100% of entry fees and donations goes directly to spinal cord research. In the editions of the Wings for Life World Run that have been completed to date, a total of 1,293,716 registered participants from 195 nationalities ran, walked and rolled on all seven continents and together raised a total of €43.8 million to find a cure for spinal cord injury.
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