That is the premise behind the Wings for Life World Run and as registration officially opens for the next global event on 9 May 2027, momentum is building rapidly across Mzansi and the rest of the world.

The 2026 edition set a record with over 346,000 participants across 173 countries running, walking, and rolling simultaneously. In South Africa, Pretoria’s sell-out crowd proved the country's huge appetite for purpose-driven sport. For 2027, the movement expands: alongside Pretoria’s flagship gathering at Rietondale Park, Cape Town joins the nationwide effort with a dedicated App Run at Green Point.

What sets this event apart isn't just its unique "Catcher Car" format where a moving finish line pursues runners 30 minutes after start time it’s the stark, unvarnished human truth behind the cause. 100% of all entry fees and donations go straight to research.

To mark the opening of registration, Red Bull TV has released BACKBONE, a moving documentary exploring the realities of living with a spinal cord injury. Narrated by Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, the film follows four individuals including Parasurfing World Champion Sam Bloom (whose story inspired the film Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts) and Austrian wheelchair tennis star Nico Langmann as they navigate heartbreak, adaptation, and fierce resilience.

"This project is more than a film. It's an eye-opening experience," says narrator Lindsey Vonn. "I've known what it's like to be unable to get up on my own and to live with pain and limitations... Other people are not so lucky. The Wings for Life World Run is a turbo booster for these projects. 100% of all proceeds go directly to research."

With over €69.7 million (around R1.3 billion) raised globally since 2014, every ticket purchased is an investment in scientific breakthroughs. Whether you plan to log 5 kilometres or 50, every stride brings the medical community closer to making spinal cord injury curable.

Get Involved:

• Global Race Date: 9 May 2027 (Starts 13:00 SAST)

• South African Locations: Rietondale Park (Pretoria), Green Point (Cape Town), or anywhere via the Wings for Life World Run App

• Registration & Documentary Stream: Sign up at wingsforlifeworldrun.com and watch BACKBONE on Red Bull TV.