The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund has announced its support for the Irish race of the 2015 Wings for Life World Run, taking place on Sunday 3 May in Dun Laoghaire.
The Wings for Life World Run was introduced to support the not-for-profit Wings for Life foundation, which funds spinal cord research projects all over the world. Millions 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, following traffic accidents, tragic falls and slips. One hundred percent of the entry fees from the Wings for Life World Run as well as all sponsorship goes straight into research.
Pictured at the announcement in Leopardstown racecourse, (L to R)
Mikey Fogarty, Bryan Cooper, Ruby Walsh, Niall Madden, David Casey, Johnny Burke, Paul Carberry
Adrian Heskin
Register now at www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com
: Photo:- ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
On 3 May 2015 runners of all abilities, fun runners and fanatics, young and old, will come together in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin to run the Irish race of the Wings for Life World Run. They will join tens of thousands of other runners from six continents and 34 countries who will also start the race at the same time.
Ruby Walsh, Chairman of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund said
“Spinal cord injury is a serious risk for all jockeys and as such the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund is delighted to support the Wings for Life World Run. The race both raises awareness and funding for spinal cord research. We are encouraging all racing fans to get behind the race and run for those who can’t on Sunday 3 May in Dun Laoghaire.”
The Wings for Life World Run is a very unique race in that the finish line catches you.Thirty minutes after the athletes start, a catcher car, driven by Irish & Munster rugby player, Simon Zebo will begin to follow all runners. Driving slowly first, but increasing its speed at given periods, the Zebo-driven Catcher Car is the moving finish line. The winner will be deemed the last person to be caught by the car, both in Ireland and globally.
Starting on the seafront in Dún Laoghaire, Irish participants will run south towards Bray and Greystones, enjoying the beautiful coastal views and scenic landscape of the East Coast. There’s no static finish line, no set distance. Everyone finishes.
Registration is now open for everyone at www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com. All of the €20 entry fee will go directly to Spinal Cord Injury research.
International sports personalities and celebrities worldwide rallied and became ambassadors as well as active participants: Austrian ultra-runner Christian Schiester, Danish Ironman European champion Camilla Pedersen, ski legend Luc Alphand (France), Chilean model and TV host Javiera Acevedo, Olympic champion Aksel Svindal (Norway), F1 drivers Mark Webber (Australia) and David Coulthard (Great Britain) are just a few who support the event. Even three-time Olympic ski jump champion Thomas Morgenstern (Austria) will come out of retirement to run for those who can’t.
Facts & Figures of the first Wings for Life World Run in 2014
- Irish location: Ring of Kerry
- Irish winners: John O’Regan (49.2km), Alison Kirwan
- Men’s global winner:Lemawork Ketema (ETH, 78.58 km)
- Men’s runner up:Remigio Quispe (PER, 78,59 km)
- Women’s global winner:Elise Selvikvag Molvik (NOR, 54.78 km)
- Money raised:€3 million
- Total kilometers:530,928 – the equivalent of one runner taking more than 13 laps around the world
- Runners starting:35,397
o Still running at 1 hour mark: 29,847
o Still running at 2 hour mark: 5,146
o Still running at 3 hour mark: 327
o Still running at 4 hour mark: 26
o Still running at 5 hour mark: 3
- Marathon distance achieved:233
- Average distance:14.99 km
- Track of the Wings for Life World Run 2015