A record-breaking 310,719 people from 191 nationalities took part in the 2025 Wings for Life World Run on Sunday, May 5, raising €8.6 million for spinal cord research.
With its unique race format, the Wings for Life World Run is an inclusive running event that has grown notably in recent years. The 2024 edition drew 265,827 participants globally to run, roll in a wheelchair, jog, or simply walk in aid of spinal cord research. This was up notably on the 2023 event, which saw 206,728 participants take part.
In May 2025, participants ran, walked or rolled at the same time in 170 countries, aiming to stay ahead of the event’s unique moving finish line, the Catcher Car. On average, participants covered 12.4km, with the collective effort totalling a distance nearly 64 times around the equator.
Jo Fukuda of Japan claimed his third global title with a new event record of 71.67km, while Germany’s Esther Pfeiffer became her country’s first female global winner, reaching 59.03km in Munich.
This year also saw a record 452 App Run Events held worldwide, alongside seven large-scale Flagship Runs in cities including Vienna, Munich and Poznań.
The event draws both elite athletes and recreational runners. High-profile participants included Lucy Charles-Barclay, Tom Pidcock, Carissa Moore, and Karsten Warholm, while celebrity drivers featured at several locations as part of the app-based audio experience.
Since its debut in 2014, the Wings for Life World Run has raised more than €60.5 million for spinal cord injury research. All entry fees and donations go directly to projects funded by the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation.
The 2026 edition will take place on May 10, with registration opening on November 5, 2025.
