Virtual spinal cord research run
WHILE the Wings For Life World Run is only taking place in May, there are already 700 000 registered participants from 195 nations.
To add to those numbers, 7 million kilometres have been run and close to €30 million (about R520m) received by Wings for Life in the form of entry fees and donations.
The organisation was started in 2004 by Heinz Kinigadner, a two-times motocross champion, and Dietrich Mateschitz.
In 2003, Kinigadner's son Hannes had an accident which left him tetraplegic.
“He was 19 and it left him paralysed from his shoulders down. After Heinz found out what hardships such an injury entails, he was determined to do something about it.
“Together with leading neurologists and scientists, they wanted to find out if this spinal cord injury was a lifelong sentence or if there was a glimmer of hope.
“There’s legitimate hope of finding a cure, but not enough money for spinal cord research, and that was the birth of Wings For Life,” said foundation chief executive Anita Gerhardter.
She co-ordinates all the activities of the foundation, initiates projects and manages strategic partnerships.
In 2012, an events specialist from Red Bull presented the idea of having a world run.
“He was stuck at Moscow airport, he drew the concept on a napkin of people running across the globe, and I was totally stoked when I first heard it. We started to work towards it and the rest is history.”
Red Bull Company is the main sponsor and covers the main costs, and all donations go towards spinal cord research.
“Throughout the year we are always brainstorming how we can reach out to more people. We want to create more awareness for this kind of injury.”
Now in its eighth year, the run returns on May 9, connecting all runners virtually through the running app that has been used and continually developed since 2015.
The global charity run will see thousands of people around the world start running at the exact same time.
The event works with a unique and fun format where the virtual finish line chases you, in aid of the Wings for Life Foundation.
Entry fees go to the foundation, whose ultimate goal is to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
“We invest the money back into promising research and have advanced to clinical trials that patients have benefited from,” said Gerhardter.
She added that for the run this year they will be introducing a new audio experience in addition to runners being able to choose their own track.
“There will be a feeling of unity, so there’s a lot to be expected.
“Covid-19 presented us with many restrictions. Fortunately, many of them are only temporary.
“People with spinal cord injuries, on the other hand, have to struggle with severe limitations throughout their lives. We want to change that.”
All runners and wheelchair users start at exactly the same time of 11.00am UTC (Co-ordinated Universal Time). Thirty minutes after the start gun, the Catcher Car gets going and starts its chase of participants. It will gradually get faster and pass participant after participant. Once passed by the Catcher Car, you have successfully completed the run. Everyone is a finisher in the Wings for Life World Run.
This year, local personalities will join the ambassador line-up, including athletes, media personalities and influencers. Mzansi’s popular YouTube couple Stephanie and Hungani Ndlovu, hitmaker Rouge The Rapper, 5FM lunchtime host Zanele Potelwa, musician and presenter Rorisang Thandekiso, and community fitness trainer Mlekeleli Khuzwayo are some of the fresh faces to sign up for the run – challenging not only themselves but their communities to join them.
The Virtual Run App can be downloaded on the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Entries cost R199.
For more information, visit www. wingsforlifeworldrun.com