The eighth global charity run, Wings for Life World Run, will take place on 9 May 2021.
Running app connects people around the world! Registration is open!
On May 9, at 02:00 p.m., Ukrainians will join the Global charity run Wings for Life World Run. With the help of the Wings for Life World Run mobile App, everyone can join the global cause in any city and location. You can run both – on your own or with friends and like-minded people — join the event in Facebook Wings for Life World Run APP RUN Kyiv.
In total, more than 50,000 runners and wheelchair users have already registered for the virtual run, which starts simultaneously around the world at 2:00 pm (Kyiv time) on Sunday, May 9. They all perform a solo run but are connected via the App.
In Ukraine, the run is supported by runners, business people and public activists, including Ulyana and Vitaliy Pcholkins (GAR), Tetyana Grinuova, Olena Balbek, Igor Krytsak and many others.
In the App, you can also create a virtual team – of your company, club or just friends. Teams from companies such as Google, Audi, Volkswagen, Sky, Suunto and KTM are all taking part in the virtual run on May 9. Former ski racer Felix Neureuther (GER), who wants to challenge his eternal rival Marcel Hirscher (AUT) on the virtual running track, has assembled one of the largest teams, 1,300 participants so far. The competitor, Neureuther says, "This year I'm taking part in the Wings for Life World Run for the first time, and I have two goals. On the one hand, I want to support spinal cord research with my participation. And on the other hand, I want my team to run more kilometres than Team Marcel Hirscher."
Taking part in the Wings for Life World Run as a team is easy:
- Download the Wings for Life World Run App for iOS or Android
- Register for the global fundraising run on May 9
- Create a team
- Invite team members
- Have fun together and run for a good cause.
The Wings for Life World Run App includes a running tracker, a pace calculator, an audio experience and running music, and it can be downloaded free of charge from Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Unique running format: Catcher Car as the mobile finish line
In the Wings for Life World Run, all runners and wheelchair users start simultaneously, 11 am UTC (2 pm in Kyiv). So in Berlin, the run will start at 1 pm. In Tokyo, it will be 8 pm, and in New York, 7 am. Another special feature: You run as long as you can. And not towards a predetermined finish line. How does that work? Thirty minutes after the starting gun is fired, a Catcher Car starts moving and chasing down the participants. It gradually picks up speed and catches one participant after another until the winner is left standing alone. For those caught by the Catcher Car, the race is then completed. In 2020 the global winner could run a total of 69.92 kilometres or 4 hours and 12 minutes before getting caught.
Global Event in May is getting bigger and bigger.
Since 2014, the Wings for Life World Run community has been running together every year in May for those who can’t. The runners and wheelchair users support the Wings for Life Foundation with their entry fees. Their goal is: to make spinal cord injury curable. And the movement has been getting bigger every year. So far, a total of 700,000 participants from 195 nations have registered for the runs. They have run a total of 7 million kilometres while raising almost 30 million euros for Wings for Life through their entry fees and donations. "The support we receive is just phenomenal. The Wings for Life World Run is an important event for our foundation. In these times of isolation, we’re delighted to unite people all around the world again in 2021 to run together for a good cause," says Anita Gerhardter, CEO, Wings for Life Foundation.
Each participant is a finisher.
It doesn't matter if you plan to run 5 kilometres, 10 kilometres, a half marathon, a marathon or even farther: Many runners and wheelchair users rise above their own expectations, reaching new heights thanks to the special format. Many end up setting personal best performances. But that's not what counts the most: everyone is a finisher at the Wings for Life World Run. And the starting field is more colourful than in almost any other run: they are all out there together for a good cause. That aspect may motivate such a large number of participants to take part with such joy year after year – along with the fact that 100% of all entry fees are dedicated to spinal cord research.
Register now for the Wings for Life World Run on May 9, 2021, at https://www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com/en/locations
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 due to 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 injury research: www.wingsforlife.com.
