In the only worldwide race where the finish line catches you, the Wings for Life World Run returns to Santa Clarita, Calif. For the fourth consecutive year on May 7, 2017 as participants everywhere unite to find a cure for spinal cord injury. The third largest city in Los Angeles County, Santa Clarita is the only west coast city in the U.S. participating in the 2017 global event benefiting spinal cord research, with runs being held simultaneously in 24 locations across the globe. Registration is now open at wingsforlifeworldrun.com.
Instead of a traditional finish line, this global charity event – produced by Red Bull in partnership with the Wings for Life Foundation – has introduced the idea of a ‘Catcher Car,’ an innovative moving finish line that takes off 30 minutes after the start at every race location and steadily increases its speed until it passes all the participants.
This ambitious global movement has now raised more than $16 million across three years, with 100 percent of all entry fees and donations directed to spinal cord injury research. The 2016 event saw a record 130,732 participants across 34 locations, 33 countries and 12 time zones raise a staggering $7.5 million for Wings for Life’s single goal. There is an early bird special of $30 for those who register before Jan. 1, 2017 for the next edition ($50 afterwards).
The Wings for Life World Run is a milestone on the sporting calendar for runners at every level, from beginners, to dedicated athletes, to competitors in everyday wheelchairs. Participants throughout the country last year included football legend Randy Moss, skiing superstar Lindsey Vonn, former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, and many others.
“It’s a run like no other…you have to go till the car passes you,” said Eric LeGrand, a former college football player who was paralyzed in a 2010 game. “We’re raising money to find a cure to get us all out of these wheelchairs and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
In 2016 Italian ultra-marathoner Giorgio Calcattera set a new run record covering a whopping 54.95 miles before being overtaken by the Catcher Car to capture the men’s global title. In the female division, it was Japan’s Kaori Yoshida who ran 40.83 miles to take the women’s global title. In the USA, Santa Clarita, Calif. runners Samuel Bradbury (37.78 miles) and Maibritt Daugaard (30.73 miles), and Sunrise, Fla., runners Simon Munyutu (38.24 miles) and Nathalie Vasseur (33.88 miles) were the last males and females running before being caught.
The Santa Clarita race will begin at 4 a.m. PT at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Worldwide locations for the Wings for Life World Run include Japan, Russia, Denmark, Canada and United Arab Emirates in the world’s only global race with a synchronized starting line. Go to www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com to register to run and to find info on the race.
For more on Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation please visit: www.wingsforlife.com. For more on Wings for Life World Run, please visit www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com.
