The Wings for Life World Run is back on Sunday, May 4, 2025, and it’s set to sprint past its own record for the largest and most inclusive running event on the planet.
This year’s Wings for Life World Run promises an electric mix of elite athletes, everyday heroes, and the ever-pursuing Catcher Car— all united by one goal: funding groundbreaking spinal cord research.
A Chase Against the Catcher Car
Forget conventional finish lines. In the Wings for Life World Run, every participant—from the seasoned marathoner to the first-time jogger—starts together, then races against a moving finish line: the beloved Catcher Car.
Once the car overtakes you, your run is done, and your distance becomes part of the official tally. It’s part competition, part carnival, and 100% pure adrenaline.
Record-Breaking on the Horizon
With only a few hundred more registrations needed to top last year’s mark of 265,818 participants, organisers are eyeing history. In 2024, runners, walkers, and wheelchair athletes from 195 nations covered over 2,036,495 km—that’s five round trips to the moon—and raised €8.1 million in a single day.
Since its inception, the Wings for Life World Run has mobilised 1.56 million participants, generating €51.93 million and funding 213 research projects into spinal cord injury.
Triumphs in the Lab
Thanks to these funds, clinical trials have delivered real-life victories. Michel Roccati, paralysed since 2017, shares:
“My life changed completely after being part of this clinical trial. To stand up and walk again means liberty – independence in several things in daily life. The Wings for Life World Run gives a lot of hope, and it’s also very fun to participate in.”
His words underscore why every kilometre matters: you’re not just chasing a car—you’re chasing cures.
Global Courses and Iconic Landmarks
From the sun-drenched streets of Mexico City to the shadow of Table Mountain in Cape Town, the Wings for Life world run app unlocks 400+ locations:
- Formula 1’s Red Bull Ring (Austria)
- Seacoast splendour in Panama City
- Arctic chills in Tromsø, Norway (350 km north of the Arctic Circle)
- Hubs in Nairobi, Sydney, Tokyo, London, Vancouver… and many more
Prefer the camaraderie of a flagship run? Head to one of the sell-out sites in Poznań, Breda, Munich, Vienna, Zug, Ljubljana, or Zadar. Spots are vanishing fast—but you can always blaze your own trail via the app.
Run with Sporting Stars
This May 4, the Wings for Life World Run welcomes a glittering cast:
- Jürgen Klopp, Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer and first-time participant: “This is my first time participating in the Wings for Life World Run, and already I love it because it’s about people coming together to do something extraordinary. In this case, people are coming together from all over the world to help find a cure for spinal cord injury – it’s amazing!”
- Eileen Gu (running in California): “In the Wings for Life World Run, every step you take reverberates far beyond the individual. Hundreds of thousands of runners all over the world working as one to advance spinal cord research – now that’s a movement.”
- Primož Roglič: “They say cyclists don’t run – but I love to run. This time, it’s about more than just the run. Join us at the Wings for Life World Run, where we’ll be running for a good cause. Sign up for our team, be part of something bigger, and let’s make a real difference together.”
And joining the chase are surfing icon Carissa Moore, trials rider Fabio Wibmer, triathlete Lucy Charles-Barclay, QB Arch Manning, gamer Masato Takahashi, rally legend Sébastien Loeb, tennis stars Dominic Thiem, Elena Rybakina, Stan Wawrinka, plus Tom Pidcock, Pascal Siakam, Karsten Warholm, Ryan Sheckler, Björn and Liam Dunkerbeck, and Jessica Fox.
Colin Jackson (GBR), Wings for Life World Run Global Sports Director and record-setting former hurdler: “You know, as I’ve watched the whole run develop as a movement – a real global movement, a global community – it excites me still. Every single year, I feel proud to be a part of this. And I just love to see it grow.”
How to Follow and Join
You don’t have to lace up to feel the rush. Head to the Live Experience 2025 to track runners, send audio cheers, and catch live interviews.
Still time to register! Sign up by 10:00 am UTC on May 4, and fuel the push toward a cure for spinal cord injury. Visit www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com to secure your spot—then get ready to chase, be chased, and change lives.
