The Wings for Life World Run is a charity fundraising fun run event where 100% of the money raised goes towards spinal cord injury research. The event is a global charity race that starts at the same time around the world (11:00am UTC), with the Melbourne event to take place at La Trobe University’s Melbourne (Bundoora) campus on Sunday 5 May commencing at 9:00pm (AEST).
The format of the event is unique as thousands of people across the world take part at exactly the same time – either running at one of the 333 worldwide events or connected virtually with the event app.
There is no finish line for this event, with participants instead running or walking until the virtual catcher car catches them. Everyone starts running at the same time with the ‘catcher car’ (through an app) starting 30 minutes later and slowly picking up speed until everyone is caught (see video below). The event will consist of wheelchair participants, casual runners, walkers and elite runners.
La Trobe Sport Senior Coordinator for Partnerships and Engagement Andrew Pettigrove said the Wings for Life World Run presented a unique chance for La Trobe University to host a truly global event.
“We’re super excited that La Trobe’s Melbourne campus has been selected as one of just seven host sites in Australia and the only site in Victoria to host this magnificent event,” he said.
“The Wings for Life World Run event provides the perfect opportunity for our students and the Team La Trobe community to not only take part in a truly global event right here on our campus, but also to play our part in a global mission to find a cure for spinal cord injury research.
“To be part of this worldwide movement and be part of something that literally tens of thousands of people around the world will be involved in simultaneously is a unique experience and one we are hoping our awesome Team La Trobe community will get right around.”
To sign up for the Wings for Life World Run at the Melbourne campus, please register here. Following the registration process, join the Team La Trobe squad via the Teams page.
Please note that there will be road closures within the La Trobe University Melbourne campus on Sunday 5 May for this event (see below), however the centre of the campus will still be accessible on foot.
If you have any questions about the road closures or accessing the campus during the Wings for Life World Run, please contact Andrew Pettigrove on 9479 3543 or via email at A.Pettigrove@latrobe.edu.au.
Ring Road | Between Science Drive & Car Park 7 | La Trobe Private Hospital via North Entry under controlled conditions to Car Park 9 | 8:00pm to 1:00am * |
Moat Drive | Full Road Closure | Restricted Access | 8:00pm to 1:00am * |
Science Drive | Full Road Closure | Restricted Access | 8:00pm to 1:00am * |
Physics Drive | Full Road Closure | Restricted Access | 8:00pm to 1:00am * |
Biology Drive | Full Road Closure | Restricted Access | 8:00pm to 1:00am * |
Chemistry Drive | Full Road Closure | Restricted Access | 8:00pm to 1:00am * |
* Event finish time may vary as it is dependent upon last runner.
