WINGS FOR LIFE WORLD RUN

Worldwide, millions of people are dependent on a wheelchair after having sustained a spinal cord injury, most often as the result of 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.

Founded in 2004 by two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner and Dietrich Mateschitz, the foundation was established after Kinigadner's son Hannes became tetraplegic following a tragic accident in 2003.

Since 2004, Wings for Life has funded 344 research projects and clinical trials worldwide, with funded scientists working at renowned institutions including Charité Berlin, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Cambridge.

For more information: wingsforlife.com

Key Facts at a Glance 

• Event: Wings for Life World Run — simultaneous global running event. No finish line. A Catcher Car starts at 14 km/h thirty minutes after the start, accelerating in stages every 30 minutes.
• 13th Edition: 10 May 2026, 11:00 AM UTC — simultaneous start worldwide.
• App Run Events: 572 community-led App Run Events across 73 countries, forming a core part of the event alongside the Flagship Runs and bringing together between 100 and 3,000 participants at each location.
• Funding Model: 100% of every entry fee and donation goes directly to spinal cord research.

A Unique Event Format: No Finish Line, One Global Start

All participants - runners, walkers, and wheelchair users — start simultaneously at 11:00 AM UTC across 191 nations. There is no finish line. Instead, 30 minutes after the start, a Catcher Car begins at 14 km/h, accelerating in stages every 30 minutes until it passes every participant. Results are measured in distance, not time.

The format is open to all ages and fitness levels — and uniquely, no participant knows in advance how far they will go. Someone who sets out to run 10 kilometres may find themselves completing a marathon. The Catcher Car is the only finish line that moves, which means every distance - from first-time runners to elite athletes — is a legitimate result on the same course, at the same moment, worldwide.

"One day each year, the whole world moves for those who can't — all together at the same time," says Anita Gerhardter, Executive Chair of the Board at Wings for Life. "Every step, every kilometre, every donation brings us closer to a cure."

13th Edition: 10 May 2026

Register for the Wings for Life World Run on May 10, 2026, HERE.

Event Terms: Wings for Life World Run 2026; Catcher Car race; no finish line run; largest simultaneous running event; global charity run; 100 percent donations to research; flagship run; app run

All administrative costs of the foundation are covered independently of donations, ensuring 100% of all donations go directly to spinal cord research. For more information: wingsforlife.com