Runners to raise funds for spinal cord research
The charity event in Ljubljana is expected to attract 3,000 runners, including President Borut Pahor, the honorary sponsor of the event in Slovenia.
Starting simultaneously in all the participating cities, the third annual Wings for Life World Run will see tens of thousands running for those who cannot do so because of their disability.
Apart from having a special purpose - raising funds for spinal cord research, the run differs from other such events in that the participants do not run toward a finish line, but are chased by a catcher car.
The car, which in Slovenia will be driven by four-time national rally champion Aleks Humar, begins chasing the runners half an hour after the start, increasing speed every hour into the race.
The Ljubljana run will start in Congress Square to proceed past the BTC shopping area and then on in the direction of the Alps, via Domžale, Kamnik, Smlednik until the catcher car overtakes the last runner.
The first two editions of the run were joined by 136,677 globally, who helped collect more than seven million euros to help support spinal cord research.