The press conference for the event, in which hundreds of thousands of people will run with one heart, was attended by Wings for Life Foundation CEO Anita Gerhardter, the race's International Sporting Director Colin Jackson, Turkish Athletics Federation President Fatih Çintimar, the race's Turkey Sporting Director Salih Münir Yaraş, and Turkey Spinal Cord Paralytics Association Vice President Semra Çetinkaya.
Ambassadors of the organization held for the benefit of the Wings For Life Foundation, which provides funding for research into permanent treatments for spinal cord injury—including actress Burcu Kara, radio and television presenter Ceyhun Yılmaz, and national athlete Ahmet Arslan—also took part in the press conference and drew attention to the importance of the event.
All proceeds obtained will be transferred to spinal cord injury research, and the address in Turkey for the race, in which hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world will run for those who cannot run, is Alanya. For more information and registration regarding the Wings for Life World Run, www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com can be visited.
At the meeting introducing the event, which will be held simultaneously at 37 different locations in 35 countries and will start in Alanya, Turkey, at 13:00 TRT, participants included Wings for Life Foundation CEO Anita Gerhardter, the race's International Sporting Director Colin Jackson, Turkish Athletics Federation President Fatih Çintimar, the race's Turkey Sporting Director Salih Münir Yaraş, and Turkey Spinal Cord Injury Association Vice President Semra Çetinkaya, as well as supporters of the event, actress Burcu Kara, radio and television presenter Ceyhun Yılmaz, and national athlete Ahmet Arslan.
In the meeting where information about the goals and objectives of the Wings for Life World Run was shared, it was stated that this global race with a unique format was organized in line with the mission of the Wings for Life Foundation, to draw attention to spinal cord injury and to provide funding for research to be conducted for permanent solutions to spinal cord injuries. It was shared with the public that 3 million people worldwide are forced to live a disabled life due to spinal cord injury, that research shows 130 thousand people suffer spinal cord injuries and paralysis every year, and that it is estimated there are over 150 thousand spinal cord injury patients in Turkey.
A unique format, an unforgettable global running experience...
Athletes of all levels, including amateur runners and professional athletes, can run from any of the participating countries in the Wings for Life World Run, which has a unique format, and registration can be completed via www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com until Sunday night, April 20. The course, which will start in front of the Kızıl Kule in Alanya, where the Turkish leg of the event will take place, will continue towards Antalya via the main road next to the coast.
In the global race, which will start simultaneously all over the world and where hundreds of thousands of people will race against each other, there will be no conventional, fixed finish line. Participants who are passed by the chase vehicle, which will set off from the starting point half an hour after the race begins, will be eliminated from the race. Based on the signals received from the chase vehicles in each country, the last 2 male and female competitors will be the winners of the global race worldwide. While the global winners win a world tour, the male and female winners of each country will have the right to run on a course of their choice next year.
About the Wings for Life Foundation:
Founded by Dietrich Mateschitz and Heinz Kinigadner for research into permanent treatments for spinal cord injury, the Wings for Life Foundation has been operating since 2004. As a non-profit organization, the Wings for Life Foundation continues its activities through the income it provides via the events it organizes, as well as with the support of volunteer individuals and corporate donors from all over the world.