934,484 km closer to a cure: Charity champions triumph again

Everyone can take part in the Wings for Life World Run regardless of fitness level, and the 2018 edition of the run for those who can’t brought all-time event totals to more than half a million registered participants. Among those supporting or taking part on Sunday were seven runners from the Amazon in traditional clothing, a prime minister, and sports celebrities like Formula One legend Niki Lauda, Dakar Rally winner Matthias Walkner, three-time Ironman World Champion Daniela Ryf and America’s Cup winner Jimmy Spithill, as well as Paralympic and Olympic Champions including record-setting skier Aksel Lund Svindal, who “drove” the Virtual Catcher Car of the Wings for Life World Run App.

The run’s simultaneous start – night or day, sun or rain – spanned every corner of the earth, from Australia to Colombia and the United Kingdom to Kazakhstan, and as always, the unique format with a moving finish line of Catcher Cars added to the excitement. Boosting the location count to a new high this year were caring people all over the world who organized group runs with the App, inspiring others to join them for a special day of fun while making a difference for others. Running in Sunrise, USA, Swedish wheelchair athlete Aron Anderson earned his second consecutive Global Championship by outpacing the Catcher Car to 89.85 km in an everyday wheelchair, while in Munich, Germany, Portugal’s Vera Nunes ran hard to capture the women’s crown with a distance of 53.78 km, a margin of just 50 meters over Croatia’s Nikolina Šustić.

“I’m so happy. This race is awesome, it means so much that we are raising money for spinal cord injury. It truly makes a difference, so thanks to everybody for putting this race up,” said Anderson, who with his back-to-back wins now holds the two longest distances in the history of the Wings for Life World Run. “I was so tired, but I wanted to keep pushing so that maybe we could raise more money and make even more of a difference. Everything hurts right now, but this is amazing!”

One hundred percent of entry fees and donations raised in the Wings for Life World Run – over 3,000,000 euros in the 2018 edition alone, with more still coming in – goes to leading-edge research funded by the nonprofit Wings for Life foundation. Marc Herremans, the event’s Sports Director Wheelchair, stated: “The Wings for Life World Run means a lot to me, because I am paralyzed from the chest down due to a bicycle accident, and I’ve also lost good friends because of medical issues related to paralysis. Historically spinal cord research has received relatively little attention and funding, and it is time to change that.” He continued, “I want to thank every supporter, because one day we will find a cure. When you participate in the Wings for Life World Run, you are not only changing lives – you’re saving lives.” 

The date for the sixth edition of the Wings for Life World Run is Sunday, May 5, 2019. For registration alerts, along with complete 2018 global results, the full race broadcast on demand and more: www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com

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 the cure for spinal cord injury. Since 2004, Wings for Life has funded life-changing research projects and clinical trials around the globe. While the cure is still to be found, steady progress has been made. One hundred percent of the Wings for Life World Run entry fees and fundraising from this global running event will help work toward Wings for Life’s ultimate goal. Every step taken at the Wings for Life World Run and with the Wings for Life World Run App is a step in the right direction – http://www.wingsforlife.com

About the Wings for Life World Run

On one day each year the Wings for Life World Run is held simultaneously in numerous locations and via the App across the world, everyone starting at the same time, whether day or night, and all with the same goal – to raise money for the Wings for Life Foundation. Under its unique format, participants run as far as they can until they are passed by a moving finish line, the “Catcher Car,” which chases runners along the course or virtual in the App, gradually getting faster until each participant has been caught. This moving finish line allows participants of any ability to complete the run – the slower ones are passed early while ultra athletes go on for hours. 100% of entry fees and donations goes toward helping to find a cure for spinal cord injury; and in the fifth editions since it was launched in 2014, the World Run has attracted more than 500,000 people from 193 nationalities to participate in more than 66 countries across all seven continents.