Dubai Redbull Wings for Life
Wings for Life is a worldwide event that raises money and awareness for Spinal Cord Injuries. The Wings for Life race has simultaneous starts around the world. It is one of the few charity events that donate 100% of monies raised back to the charity. The race commenced at 3pm today with over 300 participants taking up the running mantle. At 330pm there was a Catcher Car that started the race at 15km/h and increases speed every hour, catching more and more runners. As the car catches you, it deactivates your chip, concluding your run and the goal you set yourself at the beginning of the race to achieve.
This special event in the Dubai calendar brought people of all walks of life, nationalities and ages. Crossing the start line were wheelchairs, multiple prams and strollers, kids hanging onto mum or dads hands running, teams of co-workers, Red Bull athletes. For Mohammad Alattar Red Bull Athlete from Kuwait this event is close to his heart. This is the second year he has partaken in this cause and for Mohammad he has set himself a goal to beat his score from last year of 15.37km. It’s not just Mohammad’s competitive streak that has brought him from Kuwait but another reason entirely, as stated ‘I know of professional athletes who have had spinal injuries and are no longer able to compete this is the least I can do to help the cause and them’. The Red Bull Wings for Life race today at the Dubai Auto drome saw people from over 16 different nationalities because it is a cause close to anyone and everyone’s heart.
On a day in the UAE where it was over 40 degrees, this event was not for the faint hearted. In the warm up today, all the contestants were working up a sweat before they even started. Towards the end of the pack was another special competitor who regardless of temperature, weather or speed was going to give this a good go. Mr Maher Abu Haidar was commencing the race with two friends and himself on a set of crutches. For this young man it was not about racing other people, it was about being a part of something bigger, something fun and challenging himself to achieve a goal regardless of any disadvantage.
This was an event that catered for any and all walks of life around the globe. The Red Bull Wings for Life race saw people competing on four different continents and in over 32 different countries, just proving that this is a cause close to a lot of participant’s hearts and one that next year will definitely be even bigger.