Wings for Life World Run – Palermo Mondello

A global race with a stop in Mondello

The Wings for Life World Run is one of the most popular charity sporting events in the world: a race held at the exact same moment in hundreds of locations across approximately 191 countries, with the goal of raising funds for spinal cord injury research. In Palermo, the event comes to life on the picturesque Mondello seafront, one of the most beloved spots in the Sicilian capital, where the stage is integrated into the Mondello Cup, a multi-sport event that enlivens the gulf and the Parco della Favorita.

The Catcher Car format

The feature that makes this race unique is the absence of a fixed finish line. Participants all start together and run until they are caught by the virtual Catcher Car, a pursuit vehicle that starts a few minutes later and progressively increases its speed. It is not about finishing first; it is about covering as much distance as possible before being overtaken. It is an inclusive format by definition, allowing everyone to run according to their own abilities, with amateur runners, professional athletes, and wheelchair participants sharing the same course.

Sport, solidarity, and inclusion

In Palermo, the race holds strong symbolic value, tied to the figure of Mauro Glorioso, a young doctor from Palermo who became a quadriplegic and leads the large "Mauro's Team." Every year, the event draws over a thousand people to the Mondello seafront for a day that combines sport with civic commitment: 100% of the entry fees are donated to the Wings for Life Foundation to fund scientific research projects. The route winds for about four kilometers along the coast, offering one of the most beautiful settings in Sicily.

Mondello, Palermo, and the Mondello Cup

The Palermo stage is organized by the Now Team as part of the Mondello Cup, with the support of Red Bull and the event's partners. The Municipality of Palermo, within the Metropolitan City of Palermo and the Sicily region, thus serves as the stage for an event that intertwines the international dimension of the race with the vibrancy of the seaside village of Mondello, transforming its famous gulf into a great laboratory of sport and inclusion for one day.