Kenyans called to join global charity run to aid spinal cord injury victims
The race, which has in the past been called 'The Last Man Running,' doesn’t have a traditional finish line.
Kenyans have been urged to register for the 2025 Wings for Life World Run to help raise funds for spinal cord injury research.
The global charity event will bring together participants on May 4, 2025, including runners, walkers, and wheelchair users, emphasizing participation over competition.
Speaking in Nairobi while meeting with a local Nairobi runners club, Brian Muchiri, a spinal cord injury survivor from a road accident, urged Kenyans to turn up for the event to enable better research towards the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
"My life changed after the accident. I have to be helped to do the basic things like taking a shower, combing my beard, or even dressing. To have my life back would be amazing; to be able to hold my wife in my arms during our wedding would be a dream come true," Brian narrated.
Muchiri noted that in the 2024 edition, many Kenyans came out to support the charity which according to him was a gesture of goodwill and the realization of many that a cure was needed in the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
The race, which has in the past been called 'The Last Man Running,' doesn’t have a traditional finish line.
Instead, participants are followed by a virtual 'Catcher Car,' and the race ends for each participant when the car overtakes them.
This allows individuals of all fitness levels to participate in whatever way they find interesting.
Muchiri further stated that there were many people in the world and Kenya who want to participate in sport but were not able because of the injuries that they carry, which, according to him, was one more reason why many Kenyans needed to turn out in large numbers to register.
"There are a lot of people in the world and in Kenya who would like to participate in their favorite sport but are not able to because of the spinal cord injuries that they carry. To finally get these people to participate in sport would be amazing," he explained.
The 2024 event, which was held on May 5, 2024, brought together a record 265,818 participants from across 169 countries who started the race at the same time.
The longest distance ran in the men's category was 70 kilometers by Tomoya Watanabe from Japan, while the women’s category was taken by Dominika Stelmach, who ran a total of 55 kilometers.
On average, each runner covered a total of 11.5 kilometers.
Those willing to participate can register directly on The Wings for Life website with all the proceeds of the charity run going to the research to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.