“May 8 is a day to celebrate life, and is an opportunity to remind ourselves us that spinal cord injury must become curable. Oh yes, it’s also my birthday”, says Selfie Runner Alexander Oertl, who lives on the small island of Sylt in the North Sea, a long way from any official Wings for Life World Run locations.
Running alone is very normal for Oertl, who considers himself “a survivor who has given up an unhealthy lifestyle and brushes with addiction”, but on May 8, he’ll run alone with tens of thousands of runners worldwide – some in the 34 locations globally and others on their own tracks wherever they are as Selfie Runners.
Oertl, like many others, has even created his own fundraising campaign. “I don’t know any better way to celebrate my birthday than by running in the Wings for Life World Run.” Some fundraisers are even asking friends and family to donate to Wings for Life instead of giving them a birthday present.
Being a Selfie Runner is easy. Just download the Wings for Life World Run app for Android or iOS and confirm you’ll be a Selfie Runner — before 9am UTC on May 8.
And with the app, you can train and compete against a virtual Catcher Car.
Despite his busy schedule, Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber has vowed to participate as a Selfie Runner, “For me, there won’t be a physical start line, just a countdown on the Wings for Life World Run app and the virtual Catcher Car to hunt me down. It’s a great way to come together to do our bit for this awesome cause. If you’re a Selfie Runner, join me on team Aussie Grit”, sayse Webber.
Yes, Selfie Runners can compete in the Selfie Team Run challenge (made up of Selfie Runners worldwide — mixed teams of Selfie Runners and location runners are not possible yet).
But even if you don’t join a team, simply being part of the Wings for Life World Run means you are part of a vast global family of runners. Dortmund Selfie Runner Daniel Bernhard, author of the popular Laufcast podcast, says, “First I wanted to lose weight, then I wanted a purpose. Now I am just addicted to running. The Selfie Run is a perfect way to run against the world while running by yourself”.
And for some being a Selfie Runner is simply a way of saying thank you: “When I was a child, severe pneumonia damaged my lungs. For years I couldn’t run more than 100 metres. Today I teach sport. Running has given me my life back. I am running for those who can’t because that’s how I felt – even if my case was different”, says Czech Alena Popowiczova.
What are you waiting for? If you can’t be in an official location, now is the time to become a Wings for Life World Run Selfie Runner
Source Red Bull