Wings for Life World Run

The Wings for Life World Run is a running competition held on the first weekend of May since 2014 to collect funds for the not-for-profit foundation Wings for Life. The entry fee goes completely to Spinal Cord Research. It became the largest running event in 2021 with 184,236 runners participating in one single event. In 2023, the Wings for Life World Run celebrated its 10th anniversary with a record-breaking 206,728 participants. In 2024 the record was broken again with 265.818 participants.

The Wings for Life World Run is peculiar in that participants don't have to run a specific distance like in comparable competitions. At the Wings for Life World Run, all participants start at the same time, worldwide. It doesn’t matter whether they are professional athletes, fun runners, total beginners or in a wheelchair. There is no traditional finish line. Instead, of the finish line, a "Catcher Car" pursues and passes the runners and rollers, one after the other either physically at one of the Flagship Runs or virtually with the app, will be caught. That makes it the only race worldwide where everyone finishes.

The run is broadcast live on the webpage wingsforlifeworldrun.com, on Red Bull TV as well as TV takers all over the world.

The Wings for Life Foundation
The not-for-profit foundation Wings for Life was established by the two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner and the Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2004. Its goal is to find a cure for spinal cord injuries and paraplegia. Worldwide, millions of people depend on a wheelchair after sustaining a spinal cord injury, most often as the result of a traffic accident (50%) or fall (25%). Wings for Life is a not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation that supports cutting-edge research projects and clinical studies worldwide with a single mission: to find a cure for spinal cord injury. Since its inception, Wings for Life has supported 299 projects and counting, including 62 ongoing projects in 2023 alone. The question is not whether effective treatments and cures will be found, but when, and everyone who takes part in the Wings for Life World Run is helping to achieve that goal. So far, the run has raised 43.83 million euros.

The Wings for Life World Run
The first Wings for Life World Run started on May 4, 2014 to raise funds and at the same time rise attention on limitations and medical problems of paraplegia. Following the success of the first edition the race is now an annual event.

The Wings for Life World Run is the world ‘s largest simultaneous running event and the most inclusive one. Anyone can take part—whether you run, roll, jog, or walk - regardless of your fitness level. It is also the only event where people worldwide run at the exact same time - a synchronicity that is unmatched. This is achieved through a finish line that catches you, rather than requiring you to run towards it. And the best part of it all - it is the world‘s biggest fundraiser for spinal cord research.

The Motto of the race is: "Running for those who can’t."

"World" Run
The name Wings for Life World Run comes from the fact that the race takes place around the world at the same time - at 11am UTC. That means that runners in Europe or Africa run around noon while participants in Asia and Australia in the afternoon or evening. In the Americas the race is early in the morning or even during the night. Together with hundreds of thousands of people around the world, the starting signal sounds at exactly the same moment. Depending on your location, that moment could be day, night, or anytime in between, but you‘re all sharing the same spirit and sense of inclusion.

The "Catcher Car"
Unique Format:

The Wings for Life World Run distinguishes itself with its no-finish-line format. Participants of all abilities can compete because there's no set distance requirement. After a 30-minute head start, a "Catcher Car" begins its pursuit, gradually increasing its speed throughout the race. Whether you run, jog, use a wheelchair, or walk, the race ends when the Catcher Car passes you. The last woman and man remaining worldwide are crowned the Wings for Life World Run Global Champions.

Catcher Car and Global Rankings:

Despite the lack of a finish line, global comparisons are still possible thanks to the Catcher Cars' precise control using GPS navigation. The table below details the car's increasing speed at designated intervals after the start, along with the corresponding distance traveled.