Rugby star to swap boots for wheels in race for research

Rugby player Simon Zebo will be on a different kind of wing this summer as the Irish and Munster star gets his full back behind the Wings for Life World Run.

The athlete has been announced as ambassador for the race, which is in aid of research into spinal cord injury.

Swapping his boots for a set of wheels, Zebo will be driving the ‘catcher car’ during the race.

Thirty minutes after the starting gun, the car spins off after participants — slowly at first, but gaining speed at given periods.

When the car passes a runner, they are out of the race.

The winner will be the last person Zebo manages to overtake.

“I’ll have to get comfortable behind the wheel, and comfortable sticking my head out the window to roar encouragement at them,” said Zebo. “I’ll make sure to have the music down low so that I don’t get too excited.”

The event starts at the same time in more than 30 countries and supports the Wings for Life foundation — a not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation.

The aim of the organisation is to find a cure for spinal cord injury by funding worldwide research initiatives and clinical trials.

Millions of people suffer from spinal cord injuries globally — the number of sufferers increases by quarter of a million each year following traffic crashes, falls and slips.

Zebo described the condition as “heartbreaking and life changing” and said he knows people who have been affected by it.

“Spinal cord injury could happen to anyone,” he said.

“The Wings of Life World Run is an amazing global sports event and I am delighted to be a part of the Irish event in Dun Laoghaire. Every bit of help, every bit of encouragement and every person I can get to sign up and get involved can only do good,” he said.

Last year the Irish leg of the race was held at the Ring of Kerry.

Worldwide, more than €3m was raised by 35,397 participants.

The majority ran for more than an hour while three people ran for more than five hours.

Participants from 40 countries ran 530,928km — the equivalent of more than 13 laps around the world.

This year, the Wings for Life World Run will take place on May 3 in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, and is open to runners of all abilities.

The course starts on the seafront and runs south towards Bray and Greystones.

International ambassadors include Formula 1 drivers David Coulthard (UK) and Mark Webber (Australia), Chilean model and TV host Javiera Acevedo, and three-time Olympic ski jump champion Thomas Morgenstern for Austria.

Registration costs €20, all of which goes towards Spinal Cord Injury research.

wingsforlifeworldrun.com