As in the previous year, SPORTUNION organized an exclusive team challenge for sports clubs as part of the global charity run. The participation this year is entirely under the motto of the ongoing initiative #sportverbindet. At the Wings for Life Run on May 8, 2022 (starting time in Austria at 1 p.m.), all clubs can send a moving signal for solidarity. As in previous years, runners can take part in the running event from anywhere via an app. This challenge aims to strengthen team spirit and cooperation. All participants run for one goal: the paraplegia should be made curable. For this purpose, the umbrella organization handed over 15,380 euros to Wings for Life after the new edition of the New Years Run in Salzburg. Wings for Life CEO Anita Gerhardter, who thanked SPORTUNION for the ongoing and active support, was present at the donation handover.
The sports umbrella organization has been an official partner of the non-profit foundation since last year. “Many thanks to all the runners who took part in our charity run at the turn of the year 2022. We donated a whopping €15,381 to Wings for Life for spinal cord research. With the SPORTUNION Team Challenge, we will next support the Wings for Life World Run 2022 together with our dedicated sports clubs. In line with our #sportverbindet initiative, we will help find a cure for paraplegia,” says SPORTUNION President Peter McDonald, who wants to motivate as many people as possible to take part in the global charity run.
SPORTUNION actively supports its sports clubs in setting up virtual teams, which club members as well as non-club members can join. Last year, the umbrella organization provided the most teams from all over Austria, which will also be the goal of the challenge this year. SPORTUNION clubs received more than 20,000 euros in donations last year. In addition to the App Run, the Flagship Run is now returning to Vienna after a two-year Corona break.
There is also the option of organizing your own regional App Run event for a good cause and uniting App Runners on a running track. After the start, everyone runs and rolls around the world at exactly the same time until they are overtaken by the Catcher Car, the moving finish line. Participation in the SPORTUNION Team Challenge is independent of the running location and this year all participating clubs have the chance to take part in a unique Sports Club Day in cooperation with Red Bull.
