Thousands take part in ‘Wings’ run

OVER 2,000 runners joined 100,000 others across the globe for the Irish leg of the global Wings for Life World Run in Dun Laoghaire last week.

The race started at 12pm with the Honda Catcher Car beginning their pursuit 30 minutes later.

Runners of all abilities raised money for the Wings for Life Foundation, which aims to find a cure for spinal cord injury.

In the end it was Orna Dillworth, from Dublin, who ran 39.2km to win the Irish women’s race while David Sheehy, also from Dublin, ran 52.1km to win the men’s race.

Ethiopia’s Lemawork Ketema was crowned the global winner for the second year running with a winning mark of 79.9km.

As the Catcher Car finally passed him in St Polten, Austria, Ketema fell to the floor and kissed the tarmac in exhausted celebration. Yuko Watanabe from Japan was crowned the Global Female Winner running a total distance of 56.33km.

In Brazil, last year’s Irish winner, John O’Regan, guided visually impaired runner Sinead Kane to a 25.4km race in the 29 degree Celsius heat of Brasilia. The pair enjoyed a recovery session in the FIFA medical centre so should be fighting fit for their return to Ireland after a tough run.

Runners in Dun Laoghaire included Simon Zebo (Munster and Ireland rugby), Joe Canning (Galway hurler) Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny hurler), Alan Brogan (Dublin footballer), Con Doherty (Irish triathlete), Annalise Murphy (Irish sailor), Keith Walsh (RTE 2fm Breakfast Republic), Alison Canavan, Keith Duffy who joined a host celebrities and politicians who ran the race.

Anita Gerhardter, CEO of the Wings for Life Foundation, said:

“It was a great day for Wings for Life and a great day for spinal cord research with

?¬4.2 million raised to date and donations still coming in.

“It exceeded all my expectations with so many thrilling and touching moments throughout the day.

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Introduced in 2014, the Wings for Life World Run is a global running event. Athletes in 35 locations around the world start at precisely the same time but the race has no finish line. Instead, the runners are followed by a Catcher Car, which takes off 30 minutes after the start at 15kmh and steadily increases its speed until the last athletes have been caught.

Wings for Life is a not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation with a mission to find a cure for spinal cord injury. Since 2004, Wings for Life has funded life-changing research projects and clinical trials around the globe.