Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2023 – Allwyn AG (“Allwyn”), Europe’s leading lottery operator, today announces a three-year global partnership with the Wings for Life World Run, an annual global running event that raises money for spinal cord research.
Allwyn will be an official global partner to the next three Wings for Life World Runs, with this year’s taking place on Sunday 7th May 2023.
The Wings for Life World Run, established in 2014, gives 100% of all entry fees and donations to scientific research and clinical studies worldwide to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. Since 2014, it has raised €38.3 million, with over 1 million participants across 195 countries. The run is organised by Wings for Life, a non-profit foundation based in Austria.
As part of the partnership, the over 6,000 employees from Allwyn and its subsidiaries will be encouraged to participate and raise funds as another demonstration of Allwyn’s commitment to community causes. In 2021, Allwyn and its subsidiaries contributed over €32 million to good causes.
In 2022, 161,892 participants from 192 nationalities participated in the Wings for Life World Run, raising €4.7 million.
All participants of the run start at the same time, worldwide, regardless of time zone. The moving finish line, the Catcher Car, begins its pursuit 30 minutes after the start, passing runners and wheelchair users one after the other until the race is over.
Pavel Turek, Chief Global Brand, Corporate Communication and CSR Officer at Allwyn said: "At Allwyn, supporting good causes is central to what we do. We are proud to support the Wings for Life World Run across our markets in Austria, Czech Republic, Greece and Cyprus, and the UK. It is a fantastic cause and an inclusive global event that everybody whether old, young, fit or wheelchaired can participate in. There is no winner, so all win."
Anita Gerhardter, CEO of Wings for Life, said: “I am delighted to welcome Allwyn to the Wings for Life World Run as a global partner. With its contribution, Allwyn will make a great impact on helping us to find a cure for spinal cord injury and change the lives of so many people. Personally, I like their slogan “where we all win”, because it expresses exactly what the Wings for Life World Run stands for.“
-ENDS-
Media inquiries
Kerry Parkin, Allwyn
About Allwyn AG
Allwyn is a leading multi-national lottery operator. Allwyn builds better lotteries that return more to good causes by focusing on innovation, technology, efficiency and safety across a growing casual gaming entertainment portfolio. The lottery-first approach of focusing on affordable recreational play has earned Allwyn leading market positions with trusted brands across Europe in Austria, Czech Republic, Greece and Cyprus, and the UK. https://www.allwynentertainment.com/
About the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation
Worldwide, millions of people are dependent on a wheelchair after having sustained a spinal cord injury, most often as the result of a traffic accident or a fall. Wings for Life is a not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation with the single mission to find a cure for spinal cord injury. Since 2004, Wings for Life has funded life-changing research projects and clinical trials around the globe. While a cure is still to be found, steady progress has been made. Every step taken at the Wings for Life World Run is a step in the right direction, because 100% of entry fees and donations goes to spinal cord injury research. www.wingsforlife.com
About the Wings for Life World Run
Once a year, the Wings for Life World Run takes place around the globe. All participants start at the same time worldwide and run either individually with the Wings for Life World Run App or together in several Flagship Runs. The best part is that any form of the run is all about being there. It doesn't matter how well, fast or far you run, whether you're a professional athlete, hobby runner or an absolute beginner. It is all about having fun while running. For this reason there is no traditional finish line. Instead, 30 minutes after the start, either a virtual or – in the case of the Flagship Runs – a real Catcher Car picks up the chase and overtakes one runner after another. Results aren’t measured in time, but in distance achieved. Best of all: 100% of entry fees and donations goes directly to spinal cord research. In the editions of the Wings for Life World Run that have been completed to date, a total of 1,086,988 registered participants from 195 nationalities ran, walked and rolled on all seven continents and together raised a total of €38 million to find a cure for spinal cord injury. www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com
