The Achievements of the Wings for Life World Run
Interview
On May 5, Kakheti is to host one of the largest sporting events in the world, the Wings for Life World Run. The project unites thousands of participants each year to raise money for charity purposes to help cure spinal cord injuries.
GEORGIA TODAY contacted Maia Azarashvili, professional sprinter and one of the organizers of the event, to discover more about the World Run event.
How important is the Wings for Life World Run for you?
The Wings for Life World Run has proved to be one of the most important projects in my career and I really look forward to it each year. Along with the unique format and global scale of the event, it serves a good purpose, bringing together lots of people regardless of their gender, age and ethnicity. I’m also sure it’s as important for everyone, as it is for me, that spinal cord damage be curable.
Tell us about your personal involvement in the World Run project.
I engaged in the project in 2014 as the Sports Director, while for the past three years the National Federation ‘Sport for All’, which I’m President of, has been helping to organize the Run. As a professional sprinter, I always tell everyone that jogging and fast walking is crucial to good health. And the concept of charity doubles my motivation.
How successful has the Wings for Life World Run proved to be in Georgia so far?
In 2014, when we decided to hold the World Run in Georgia for the first time, me and the head of the project at the time were walking door to door, trying to grab the attention of the public and gather participants. We had no idea then that so many people would ever engage in the charity sport event. Sprinting is not a popular sport in our country. However, a lot has changed since 2014. Aside from the great enthusiasm of the public regarding the World Run, some good runners have also appeared, all wanting to contribute to charity. We feel special support from companies who register more participants by the year. It goes without saying that the Wings for Life World Run is as successful in Georgia as it is globally, and we have no other sports or charity events of such a scale.
The project managed to bring together 3,000 participants in 2014, while last year we had 7,000. The same figure is expected this year. I think getting such a result within five years is a great achievement. In addition, the international team of the event has high expectations from us and is waiting each year for us to start registration. Our photos catch their eye most frequently and so there are a lot of people traveling to Georgia to run.
How high is the engagement of foreigners in this event in Georgia?
As the Wings for Life World Run is held in this specific format (using a ‘Catcher Car’) in only 12 countries, Georgia is a very popular destination among runners. We host a great number of tourists each year, the vast majority of them coming from the neighboring countries. During the first week of May, Kakheti is overloaded with people, which is certainly thanks to the World Run. Last year, the event brought together the representatives of 30 countries in Kakheti, including six World Run winners of different years. This year, we are expecting the winners of the South Africa and Taiwan runs. Registration is still ongoing so it’s difficult for me to say how many foreigners will register. The nature, location and environ within which the World Run is to be held is sure to impress all guests!
Do you collect the necessary finances for spinal cord research through the Wings for Life World Run?
The Wings for Life Foundation has been carrying out medical research projects and clinical trials since 2004, financing 11 studies in 2005 and 191 ongoing studies in 15 countries in 2009. We achieved the desired results and in December 2018 it was revealed that three of our patients had started to walk, having been given special electric stimulators in their spinal cords which could be managed by wrist-watch-like device that reacted to the owner’s voice to activate or deactivate the stimulator according to need. Five months after the surgery, the patients had control of their leg-muscles again and were able to walk without the wrist-watch. After five more months of intensive exercise and therapy, all of them have been given the ability to walk unaided. This is certainly a great triumph for the patients.
The next stage of the research includes investigating spinal cord damage at the early stage, which will facilitate the curing process. All of this has happened as a result of the engagement of World Run participants and I hope we will continue the charity work: all proceeds from the run go to the World Run Foundation!
By Ketevan Kvaratskheliya