On May 5, Georgia runs with the world for the sixth time
The biggest run organized in the country to date, will be held on May 5, 15:00 in Kakheti, along the Lopota border, along the Caucasus Range.
Held simultaneously in locations across the world, Wings for Life World Run events mark a charity effort to raise funds for spinal cord research at major institutions.
Instead of a traditional static finish line, competitors run for as long as they can along a designated route until they are passed by an advancing โcatcher carโ, at which point their race is over.
For the third year, the charity event is managed with full funding and support of the Government of Georgia. Wings for Life World Run are organizers of the year 2019: Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Federation Sport for All, and Red Bull.
The registration will begin on January 30. Especially for this day, World Sports Cyberneur Colin Jackson (sprint runner, 110 meter interpreter, silver medal of 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, 2-way champion of the world, European champion and winner of many international tournaments) visited Tbilisi.
Minister Mikheil Batiashvili, Deputy Ministers Mikheil Giorgadze and Shalva Gogoladze, Sports Director of Wings For Life - Colin Jackson and President of Sport Federation Maia Azarashvili attended the press conference at the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia. The officials talked about the importance of global partnership and the success of such events to cure diseases and raise money.
In December 2018, Nature and Neuroscience published a study by Swiss scientists Gregory Cortin (EPFL and CHUV / Unil) and Jacqueline Block (CHUV / Unil). Three patients participated in the study and all three were able to walk without hands and support. At the first stage of the study, patients have a wireless implant in the spinal cord, which was associated with electrical stimulation of paralyzed leg muscles. For the control of electrical stimulation scientists have created hours that react to the voice of the owner and, if necessary, disables and stimulates the stimulator. In a few weeks after the study, patients received "autonomies" on foot muscles. After 5 months of permanent training, they were able to go through their support or hand. The next stage of the study is to use an electric stimulator in the early period, with the chance of getting fully recovered.
Registration of participants for the 2019 Wings for Life will start on January 30, and will continue until May 2 on www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com. The cost of participation in Georgia is 30 GEL. The sum received from the event will be fully transferred to the Wings for Life Foundation, which implements medical and clinical trials for the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
Information about the Wings For Life:
The not-for-profit foundation Wings for Life was established by the two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner and the Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2004.[1] Its goal is to find a cure for spinal cord injuries and paraplegia. Therefore, the foundation supports research and studies about spinal cord and spinal cord injuries financially. Anita Gerhardter is CEO. Founder Kinigadner himself is concerned because his brother and his son, both motocross riders too, are bounded to wheelchairs after injuries.[2]
After two years of preparations the first Wings for Life World Run was started on May 4, 2014 to raise funds and at the same time arouse attention on limitations and medical problems of paraplegic persons. Following the success of the first edition the race is now an annual event. According to the official Website the idea to organize a worldwide race where the last man standing would be the winner, came during a lay-over at the airport in Moscow.
The race is open to everybody, professionals as well as members or non-members of running clubs. The entry fee is donated entirely to the foundation, the main sponsor Red Bull covers the costs of the event. The fees vary somewhat depending on the choice of location and the time of sign up. 40.00 GBP are due to take part in Great Britain, 50.00 USD to take part in the United States, but it is also possible to augment the donation during the registration process. So far 3 million and 4.2 million euro of donation have been collected in the two first editions
Active involvement of participants of the World Renaissance and enhancing the popularity of the event every year, along with other circumstances, is the merit of the Goodwill Ambassadors of World Ruby.
Georgia goodwill ambassadors are known athletes: Seoul Olympic medalist in athletics: Vladimir Hinchegashvili and athlete Lasha Talakhadze, Olympic medalist in judo Varlam Liparteliani, Paralympian fencer Irma Khetsuriani, rugby player Vasil Lobjanidze; Drivers - Mevlud Meladze and Data Kajaia, Iva Tsiklauri skier, swimmer ANri Kuprashvili- Rezi Rogava basketball player, amateur runners - Giga Gelashvili Dzuliashvili and Tamar.
Besides the athletes, there are other goodwill ambassadors such as: Intellectual - Giorgi Bakradze, musicians - Elene Kalandadze and Achiko Guledani, TV presenters: Mariam Vashadze, Aleksandre Lortkipanidze, Irakli Kakabadze, Irakli Gaprindashvili, Nika Grigolia, Celebrities: Keti Khatiashvili, Ninusa Makashvili, Mirian Jejelava, Merab Dukashvili, fitness instructor Nino Goguadze; Photographer Mari Nakani and others.
In 2019, Vice colonel Besarion Gudushauri who participated in the 2008 military operations in Tskhinvali and Afghan peacekeeping missions in 2013-2014, deputy defense attachรฉ in the Baltic states, owner of the two-weight gold medals, was named as the honorary goodwill ambassador.
