FLORIANOPOLIS, BRAZIL – TUESDAY 21ST JANUARY 2014: 800 people came together in Florianopolis, Brazil at the weekend, to form a giant logo to mark the Wings for Life World Run – the world’s most spectacular running race.
Florianopolis is one of the locations where on May 4th 2014, thousands of runners across the globe will take part in the Wings for Life World Run – a unique race staged simultaneously on up to 37 different courses in 35 different countries on 6 continents.
The Wings for Life World Run aims to raise funds for spinal cord research.
It will start precisely at 10am UTC at the exact same time in all locations across the globe – meaning that runners in some countries will be running from dawn to dusk, while others will be racing from dusk to dawn.
The world’s first-ever simultaneous global endurance event includes a number of routes; some passing through deserts; others traversing through some of the world’s most attractive countryside; and others following along scenic coastlines.
Open to competitors of all levels, shapes, sizes, abilities and ages, the unique feature of the Wings for Life World Run is a “moving finish line” – which will chase participants from behind, instead of participants running towards a set finish line. Exactly 30 minutes after the start of the race, “Catcher Cars” will set off in pursuit; when a Catcher Car passes a participant, their race is over. The last man and last woman still running will be declared the winners.
More than 216 top athletes from a wide range of sports and countries have already signed up to participate, including ex-Formula One driver David Coulthard; surfing icon Robby Naish; motorsport racing legend Eddie Jordan; former Alpine skiing ace Luc Alphand; Iron Man Marc Herremans; three-time 100km ultra-marathon world champion Giorgio Calcaterra; and three-time surfing world champion Mick Fanning. British Olympian Colin Jackson, who is the Wings for Life World Run sports director, can’t wait until the race gets under way in just over 100 days.
The Wings for Life World Run is more than about determining winners. It is above all about competing while raising funds for spinal cord research and awareness for the cause itself. The proceeds from the run will go entirely to cutting-edge research projects aimed at healing the injured spinal cord. Therefore the race will be held under the slogan: running for those who can’t.
About 3 million of people around the world are living with a spinal cord injury. Every year, at least 250,000 more sustain a traumatic spinal cord injury – the main cause being traffic accidents. Advancement in spinal cord research is largely based on private initiatives. As a non-profit foundation, Wings for Life is dependent on donations. The foundation guarantees that 100 percent of all donations are used for research purposes only as all administrative costs are kindly covered.
With just over 100 days left before the race on (the 100 day milestone is January 24th), there is still time to sign up for the race at www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com The deadline for applications is April 20th 2014.
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