DUBAI TO RUN FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T FOR THE SECOND YEAR

The Wings for Life World Run, the ground-breaking global charity run, is set to return to Dubai for the second year in a row on May 8th at 3:00 pm, when runners across the globe set out to run for those who can’t, on 34 tracks across 6 continents, night or day, rain or shine.

In a race with no finish line, runners will once again brave temperatures as high as 45°C trying to keep ahead of the catcher car that gives the runners a head start then chases the field at a predetermined pace. 100% of all entry fees and donations contributed by the Wings for Life World Run participants, and 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 inaugural run in Dubai saw more than 700 runners from the UAE and the region. The Men’s division title was claimed by Omani runner Sami Al Saidi, covering a total distance of 45 kms and placing 336 globally. The women’s division title was won by Katie Sloane, running a total of 30.08 kms and placing 284 globally.

Catcher car drivers announced

Renowned TV anchor Mustafa Agha will join the fastest men on earth, taking on the slowest race of their lives, chasing thousands of Wings for Life World Runners. Drivers of the Catcher Cars, the race’s unique moving finish line, will start at 3.00 pm Dubai time driving -- really slowly -- after runners, with no idea of how long or how far they will drive.

Agha’s counterparts include the likes of Formula One’s David Coulthard, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, as well as motorcycle legend Ricky Johnson.

The 2015 event saw 101,280 participants in 33 countries 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 again 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.

The UAE leg of the run is organized in partnership with Emirates NBD, the leading banking group in the region, XDubai, Dubai-based ambassador for action sports, and Dubai Sports Channel, the 24/7 sports channel.

The list of global sponsors includes leading athletic-wear company Puma, as well as Garmin, developer of consumer, aviation, outdoor, fitness, and marine technologies for GPS, and BFGoodrich, one of the world’s leading providers of high performance tires for a full range of driving experiences.