Irish sporting stars joined well known personalities in Sandycove, Dun Laoghaire to launch the Irish race of the 2016 Wings for Life World Run. This is the third year of the global charity run that sees over 100,000 people run at the same time in 34 locations worldwide on 8 May, all starting at 12pm (Irish time). The Irish race will start at the seafront in Dún Laoghaire.
Those who were in attendance to announce their support to run the Wings for Life World Run on 8 May, included MICHAEL CONLAN (World Boxing Champion & RTE Sports Person of the Year), FELIX JONES (former Irish and Munster rugby player), JOE CANNING (Red Bull Athlete & Galway hurler) and ASHLING THOMPSON (Cork camogie player), ROZ PURCELL (Model) and EOGHAN MCDERMOTT (RTÉ 2fm Presenter).
What makes the Wings For Life World Run unique is that the finish line catches you.Thirty minutes after the athletes start, the Volkswagen Catcher Car will begin to follow all runners. Driving slowly first, but increasing its speed at specific periods, the Volkswagen 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.
On 8 May 2016 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. 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 on www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com
Announcing his intention to run and support the Wings for Life World Run, World Champion Boxer and RTE Sports Person of the Year said:
“Spinal cord injury is a serious risk for all sportspeople and as such I am delighted to support the Wings for Life World Run. The race both raises awareness and funding for spinal cord research. I would encourage runners of abilities to get behind the race and run for those who can’t on Sunday 8 May in Dun Laoghaire.“
The Wings for Life World Run was launched in 2014 to raise funds for the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation. Pioneering the concept of a synchronised race where participants across the world run simultaneously, the event introduced the Volkswagen Catcher Car format, in which a celebrity-driven vehicle gives the runners a head start, chasing the field at a predetermined pace. While the individual man and woman last to be caught are declared Global Champions, all the participants have their own personal goals and motivations, which are as varied and unique as the runners themselves.
One-hundred percent of all entry fees and donations contributed by the Wings for Life World Run participants, and by the friends and families who support them to maximise their financial impact, goes to spinal cord research projects to help find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
The 2015 event saw 101,280 participants in 33 countries across 12 time zones raising 4.2 million euros for Wings for Life’s single goal. Japan’s Yuuko Watanabe was crowned 2015 Wings for Life World Run Female Global Champion with 56.33km, while Lemawork Ketema of Ethiopia repeated as men’s Global Champion in running to a distance of 79.9km. As it will be in 2016, the entire event was followed by viewers across the globe, thanks to an enthralling live-stream experience, which shares the effort, elation and emotion of the runners.
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