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Belgium’s first Wings for Life World Run a success

11:06 05/05/2014

More than 2,000 runners participated in Belgium’s first Wings for Life World Run in Ypres, West Flanders, on Sunday. The same race took place simultaneously in 34 other cities around the world. The Wings for Life World Run raises money for research into spinal cord injuries.

2,143 participants gathered on Ypres’ main square without yet knowing what distance they would run. The idea was to stay head of the “catcher car”, which trailed behind the runners along a route that passed the Menin Gate and Tyne Cot Cemetery in Passchendaele, among other tourist destinations in the region.

The full proceeds from the event, around €3 million worldwide, go to Wings For Life, an international non-profit organisation that conducts research to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. Former triathlete Marc Herremans, himself partially paralyzed in a crash, is the Belgian ambassador of the project. He also took part in the event.

Almost 35,000 participants in 34 cities worldwide took part in the Wings for Life World Run. In Belgium, Nele Louwagie ran the longest distance among the woman, with 34.38km. The men's race was won by Wouter Decock, who ran just over 65km before the catcher car caught up with him. He completed the run in about 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Written by Robyn Boyle