Gautam Gambhir, Ashwini Ponnappa and Colin Jackson unite for a cause

Gautam Gambhir

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS): Former world champion hurdler Colin Jackson, cricketer Gautam Gambhir and shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa here on Wednesday launched ‘Wings For Life World Run’ aimed at raising funds for spinal cord research.

Former 110-metres hurdles world record holder Jackson is the global race director for the event, which will take place on May 4 at Sonepat in India and in 34 more countries.

Along with the-two time world champion and 1988 Olympics 110m hurdles silver medallist in the event, were the Indian ambassadors of the race — Gambhir and Ponnappa. Also present in the event were boxer Vijender Singh, hockey player Sandeep Singh, discus thrower Krishna Poonia, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and boxer Jai Bhagwan Singh.

Starting at 11 am in London, 2 am in Los Angeles, 6 pm in Australia and 3.30 pm in India — this one-of-its-kind race will take place simultaneously in 40 different locations worldwide. Over 150,000 runners will race at exactly the same time, regardless of whether it’s day or night.

With no finish line to end the run, the runners will be chased by a catcher-car which will mark the end of the race for a runner as it passes him/her. The car will take off 30 minutes after the run begins. Once it goes past a runner, his/her race will be over, and he/she will be given the final world rank.

As the race progresses, the car will eliminate competitors as it passes them until there’s a single man and woman left running who will be crowned Global Champions of the run.

In India, the race, organised by the Haryana Olympic Association, will start from Rai Sports Complex, Sonepat, and is expected to end at Karnal.

“The Wings for Life World Run is not just an exceptional sports event but also a completely new endurance format for everybody, everywhere. Moreover, 100 percent of the funds gathered from the race will go towards the Wings for Life — a foundation that funds research into finding a cure for spinal cord injury,” Jackson said.