Hoping to break the monotony of classic “charity running,” Wings for Life, a non-profit organization started by Dietrich Mateschitz, the founder of Red Bull, will be hosting the first ever World Run on May 4. What makes this run so different, you may ask?

The revolutionary idea centers on world unity, which Wings for Life is seeking to promote with the first-ever simultaneous race format. Forty cities across the globe will host the running event at the same time, but it’s also unique in the fact that there is no set time or distance. Without a finish line, runners instead are asked to run as far and as long as they can until they are caught by a catcher car, which will begin to chase them after 30 minutes of racing. The car will move at a consistent rate of nine miles per hour and slowly gather speed. In this way, the car acts as a finish line because, once it passes you, your race is over. Runners will continue to race until a global winner is crowned in both the men’s and women’s categories.

To keep events fresh and exciting, each course will be unique as well. Denver, Colorado participants, for example, will start at the city’s center and travel east out of town, while those participating in Sunrise, Florida will run through a stretch of the Everglades. The difficulty level of the courses has been considered as well, so that all of them will be equal. Not only will the large crowds need to be accommodated, but also the catcher car, which needs to be able to drive without obstruction. The length of each course will be long enough to also ensure that leaders aren’t prematurely eliminated by lapsing the car.

Is your head spinning yet?

The obvious question is why would Wings for Life create something so complicated? Wouldn’t a standard marathon do the trick?

“We think it is something that everyone can get excited about,” said Charlie Wasley, race director for the Denver World Run. “I’ve been putting on events for over a decade, and this is the most unique concept I have ever been a part of. Besides, put on another marathon and it just gets lost among all the other charity runs. This is totally different, and in that way we hope to get people’s attention and make them want to participate.”

The Wings for Life charity is the driving force behind the innovation. Founded by Mateschitz in 2003, Wings for Life strives to raise funds and awareness for spinal cord injuries. The fundraising effort is near to the founder’s heart, because it was a tragic accident that left his friend, Heinz Kinigadner’s, son partially paralyzed. Hoping to use his vast resources, Wings for Life has been searching for a cure for spinal cord injuries ever since.

Currently under-funded events like the World Run can make a huge difference. With a simple donation at registration, each participant can give hope to the currently 3,000,000 people worldwide who are living with spinal cord injuries. And, mostly because of car accidents, another 130,000 people will injure their spinal cord every year and be forced to live a life plagued by paralysis, making this cause a very important one.

“This is something we can cure. We all can make a difference,” Wasley said. “The race platform has something for everyone. You are ultimately racing against yourself. You can stop whenever you want. But you are also racing against people all across the globe and that is something truly powerful.”

To learn more about the World Run, check out the infographic below. Learn how you can get involved by visiting the website and sign up for the race nearest you.

Images courtesy of World Run