Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Dallas/Texas/USA
"VNS stands for Vagus Nerve Stimulation. Stimulating the Vagus Nerve while you practice things triples the number of connections that are made. This ability to strengthen the number of new connections helps people recover better and faster from spinal cord injury."
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is proving to be a transformative treatment for spinal cord injury recovery. By sending mild electrical pulses to the vagus nerve, VNS stimulates the brain to form new neural connections, a key factor in improving motor function and accelerating recovery. At the University of Texas in Dallas, researchers have integrated VNS with rehabilitation exercises, demonstrating its ability to enhance neural plasticity. This combination is showing promising results, helping patients regain motor control and independence after spinal cord injuries. As research continues, this therapy has the potential to significantly change the future of rehabilitation, offering new hope to people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological challenges.
Groundbreaking Clinical Trial for Spinal Cord Injury
Florian Neuschwander
Munich/Germany
Florian Neuschwander is a 43-year-old ultrarunner from Germany. He started running at the age of 15 when he ran a 2km race and was approached by a running coach afterwards. He finds running freeing and says that once he has started to run, he can’t think of his problems anymore because all he is focusing on at the moment is the running. He also loves testing his endurance which has led to his running anywhere regardless of the terrain or distance. For example, he has not only run the Transrockies Run in Colorado, USA but he has also broken the indoor record for 100km with a time of 6h 26m 08s on a treadmill. He has won the local championship title in Germany for the Wings for Life World Run in 2015 and in 2016, covering 75.5km and 63.66km respectively. For him the Wings for Life World Run is particularly special as it is for a good cause and it allows him to push his boundaries every year.
When Florian Neuschwander blitzed the 100 km indoor running record in 2021
Sandile Mkhize
Pretoria/South Africa
"It would be great, you know, find a cure for spinal cord research within my life, and I could benefit from it. But that’s not why I do it, and I don’t think I’d even take it because, you know, I’m contributing now, and I’m contributing in a way that somebody who is younger than me in the future won’t have to go through the same struggles that I did."
After a life-changing motorbike accident that left him with paralysis, Sandile has fought tirelessly to overcome the physical and mental challenges of his condition. Through intense rehab, Sandile continues to push his limits, determined to not only reclaim his life but also to inspire others along the way. He proudly participates in the Wings for Life World Run, with the South African flag in hand, and celebrates his victories, knowing that his efforts contribute to spinal cord injury research that could help future generations. Sandile’s commitment to the cause runs deep, proving that it’s not just about the struggle but also about ensuring that others don’t have to endure the same hardships.
Inspirational story of motorbike accident victim, Sandile Mkhize
Jo Fukuda
Fukuoka/Japan
Jo Fukuda is a 34-year-old Japanese long-distance runner. He was the Global winner of the Wings for Life World Run 2 years in the row, in 2022 and 2023. This is the highlight of his running career. He started running at his high school with track and field disciplines and then running the Japanese long-distance relay race called ‘Ekiden’. He has been part of corporate sports teams ever since he started to run. Fukuda ran his first marathon in 2016. He then continued running and tried to push his limits by running marathons in Japan and Australia. He also consistently ranked third when doing these challenges. In 2020, he officially became a professional runner and became the first Japanese to join ‘NN Running Team’ which is one of the best marathon groups in the World. He still continues to try and break his own records which led to him winning the Wings for Life World Run global male champion title in 2022 with a distance of 64.43km and then again in 2023, with a distance of 69.01km going even further once again. 2024 Jo Fukuda ran in Vienna going 61.04km.
Kasia Szkoda
Poznan/Poland
Katarzyna Kasia Szkoda, is a 34-year-old car factory worker from Swarzedz, a small town in Poland near Poznań. She made headlines last year as the unexpected global winner of the Wings for Life World Run. Covering an impressive distance of 55.07km, Szkoda's victory stood out as the most surprising among the top ten participants of the 2023 edition. What made Szkoda's win even more astonishing was her limited experience in street marathons. Prior to her triumph in the 2023 Wings for Life World Run, she had only participated in one such event, making the 2022 edition her first venture into street marathons. Despite only recently starting street racing, Szkoda is no stranger to the podium, having stood on the podium for mountain running events on several occasions. In February of this year, Szkoda added another victory to her name by triumphing in one of Poland's most prominent winter trail races. In an interview following her unexpected win last year, Szkoda revealed her modest approach, admitting that she typically ‘doesn't believe in her own ability’ to win races but simply keeps running. She is very proud to be part of the Wings for Life World Run.
Dominika Stelmach
Zadar
Legend Dominika Stelmach will return to Poznan’s Flagship Run, nine years after her first win there in 2015. That run was the kickstarter to her running career. Her decision to be in the race and winning it, completely, unexpectedly, changed everything. She suddenly started to believe in herself, and started beating her records at every distance. Dominika Stelmach won in Santiago de Chile in 2017 becoming the global female winner and the first global winner from Poland. Her determination won her the global title, at 68.21km. Since then she became World record holder in the 12-hour run. Polish cord holder in 50km, 100km, 6h, 12h runs and World vice-champion in mountain running. For her the Wings for Life World Run is unique, not just because of the personal connection, but because of the purpose for which we run and secondly because it's for everyone, regardless of their level of advancement, regardless of whether they are running, walking or rolling in a wheelchair. In 2024, she competed in Poznan, achieving first place globally with a distance of 55.02 km.
Impossible today, can be possible in half a year
David Mzee
Zagreb
"Spinal cord injuries are not as incurable as they used to be. I think Wings for Life came up with that goal before I did and really said; Well, we want to try that. And I think it’s a very ambitious goal, but it should be tackled then, that’s what we are doing."
David Mzee is a pioneer in every sense of the word. After a spinal cord injury in 2010 left him with quadriplegia, he rewired his approach to life and movement. Thanks to cutting-edge neurostimulation technology, David became one of the first people with a spinal cord injury to take steps again. But he didn’t stop there. From wakeboarding in a custom-designed seat to snorkeling, quad biking, and becoming a national wheelchair rugby player, David redefined what’s possible. Through years of intense rehab, he’s pushed past physical limits with purpose and precision, always searching for new ways to move, adapt, and thrive. At the Wings for Life World Run, David stands not only as an athlete but as a symbol of scientific progress and hope.
How David Mzee walked a record 467m in this year’s Run
Lukas Müller
Vienna/Austria
Lukas Müller, 33-year-old Wings for Life World Run legend that has been participating in Vienna ever since he first did in 2016. He is a former ski jumper, who started ski jumping at the age of 12 and had various victories throughout his career. On the 13th January 2016 at the age of 23 he crashed on a ski flying hill when he was the forerunner of the Ski Flying World Championships. He was diagnosed with an incomplete spinal cord injury from the chest down. He was in therapy for five months after his accident trying to regain some mobility. He was determined and refused to let that accident rule his life. He first participated in the Wings for Life World Run in 2016 when he was pushed by Thomas Morgenstern. In 2022 he pushed himself to 34.09 km. But the biggest surprise was in 2023 when he stood up and started walking the WIngs for Life World Run for the first time. His aim was to walk one kilometre but he ended up running 2.3km, surprising everyone again. He is a symbol of hope and courage for so many people everywhere. In 2024, he participated in Vienna using a wheelchair and covered 34.15 kilometers.
Mason Spellings
Houston, Texas/USA
After a motocross crash left him paralyzed, Mason Spellings had a choice - give in to his injury or fight to regain the use of his body. He was optimistic when first learning about the details of his neck injury. He had broken a few bones before, why would this be any different? With the unfamiliar feeling of paralysis and time, he eventually learned that things may never be the same again. With his wife's support, he tackled the daunting task of relearning basic tasks, pushing forward with perseverance. Mason has been a huge advocate for the Wings for Life World Run. This fundraiser gives him incredible purpose and drive when he trains to take small steps and increases his goal for walking in the run (with walker assistance) and recruiting people to join his team to raise money for this research he holds great hope in. For him it means everything. As a father and a husband, he dreams of one day being back on his feet, holding his family in his arms. This is Mason's 5th year participating in the Wings for Life World Run and his second with his child Ellis, who was born in 2023. In 2025 he is participating in Houston heights.
Diane Vitkus
Boston, Massachusetts/USA
"Obviously, I would love to walk and that’s the end goal, but there’s so much more that goes along with the spinal cord injury. I can’t even bring my arms out in front of me because I don’t have the abs to hold myself up. The little, tiny things that you don’t even think of, are the things I miss the most."
In July 2020, Dianne Vitkus, a 29-year-old surgical physician’s assistant, experienced a life-altering fall. She was paralyzed from the chest down after slipping off a ladder while watching the sunset. Before her injury, Dianne was an active athlete, excelling in multiple sports and even completing the Marine Corps Marathon in 2019. Since her accident, Dianne has worked tirelessly to adapt to her new life. She’s embraced adaptive sports like handcycling, rock climbing, skiing, and sailing. Through these experiences, she’s shown that a spinal cord injury doesn’t have to limit one’s ability to explore and live fully.
I'm Dianne Vitkus and this is my story
Ben Tansley
When Ben Tansley found himself in a wheelchair after being paralysed in a motorbike accident, when he made his first venture into disability sport. Just three weeks earlier, life had been very different: his day-to-day life was running the boxing gym he’d opened at 26 – a lifelong dream. Following an unwavering dedication to his physiotherapy, is now able to walk with the aid of crutches. Tansley’s latest feat was taking part in the Red Bull 400 in Planica, Slovenia – a gruelling 400m event that challenges competitors to race up a ski slope with 202m of altitude gain. There was a moment, halfway up, when Tansley thought he couldn’t reach the top. But he pushed through it. This determination and resilience have underpinned every step of Tansley’s journey, whether reaching a 400m summit on a 37° incline or confounding the doctors who said his sporting life was over.
Heinz and Hannes Kinigadner
Zillertal/Austria
"I'm Hannes Kinigadner, and more than 20 years ago, I had an accident that changed my life forever. Since then, I’ve been spinal cord injured and reliant on my wheelchair. I’m the reason why Wings for Life exists."
On July 26, 2003, Hannes Kinigander's promising motocross career came to an end after a severe crash that left him paralyzed from the fifth cervical vertebra down. This led to his father Heinz and Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz to establish the Wings for Life Foundation in 2004, aiming to fund research for spinal cord injury cures. Hannes hasn’t let his injury define him. He stays physically active and continues to participate in the Wings for Life World Run every year. He and his father have been involved from the start, attending events in Vienna, Munich, and Ibiza. Over time, they began organizing their own App Run event in their home in Zillertal, Tyrol, which continues to grow each year, raising funds and awareness for spinal cord research.
I Will Rise From This Wheelchair One Day!
Catcher Car
Flagship Runs
"Hellooo World Runner, I'm the catcher car and I will accompany you throughout the race today. Every few minutes I'll check in on you and of course give you maximum motivation."
Likely the most unique thing about the Wings For Life World Run is the Catcher Car. Where during "normal" runs one is running towards a finish line, in the Wings For Life World Run runners are being followed by the finish line, the Catcher Car. Runners can run away from a physical Catcher Car at the Flagship Runs or virtually at one of the many App Run Events. An added motivation for the runners getting caught: you are almost guaranteed to be caught by a world class athlete as in past years David Coulthard, Max Verstappen, Adam Malysz or Anna Gasser have steered Catcher Cars and over the course of time have caught hundreds of thousands of runners.
Michel Rocatti
Milan
"Stand up again and walk again means liberty, independence on several things for your daily life. For example, talking with you in a standing position it’s something that for me changes completely the quality of the speech."
Michel Roccati's life changed dramatically in 2017 when a motorcycle accident left him with a complete spinal cord injury, leaving him unable to move his lower limbs. However, Michel's determination remained unwavering. In 2020, he became one of the first people in the world to regain the ability to walk after such an injury, thanks to an innovative experimental project in Switzerland, supported by the Wings for Life Foundation. The project involved implanting electrodes below his spinal cord injury, enabling Michel to walk again. Michel’s remarkable journey was further highlighted when he set a Guinness World Record for the longest distance walked by a person with paraplegia: 500 meters.
Matthias Walkner
Red Bull Ring / Spielberg
"I'm basically the moving finish line, and every runner I overtake is out of the race. It's a really cool task, you can see how all the participants mobilize all their strength in the last minute or two to run away from the catcher car."
Matthias Walkner is not only one of the most popular catcher car drivers in Wings for Life World Run history, but also the first Austrian to win the Dakar Rally. In 2024, he suffered a serious leg injury that left him unable to race. But Walkner’s journey of recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. After a grueling 14 months of challenges, setbacks, and intense rehab, in February 2025 Walkner shared that he had fully recovered. His passion for the sport and his determination to recover serve as a powerful reminder of his strength and perseverance.
Steven Dowd
London
"Back in 2016 our lives turned upside down, when I went to work one morning with my bike and unfortunately I hit a barrier I didn’t see. As I went over the top of this barrier, I landed on my head and I broke my neck which left me instantly paralyzed from my neck down."
Steven Dowd was left paralyzed from the neck down with an incomplete spinal cord injury after said cycling accident in June of 2016. He was taken to St George’s Hospital and offered experimental surgery from a clinical trial on the spinal cord that he would be suitable for. This surgery alleviated the pressure in the spinal cord and eventually led to Steven walking again. He still undergoes physical challenges due to his injury but considers himself very lucky to be able to stand and walk again. Steven then set himself new goals, having participated in every Wings For Life World Run since being able to walk again.
Wings for Life – News
Salzburg/Austria
The Wings for Life World Run is the largest fundraising event organized by the Wings for Life foundation, whose sole mission is to find a cure for spinal cord injury. Wings for Life has funded life-changing research projects and clinical trials globally. While a cure has yet to be found, steady progress has been made. Learn more about all the advances achieved.