Every eight hours, someone in the UK sustains a spinal cord injury and most become a wheelchair user as a result. Wings for Life's mission is based on research and medical advances; it's not a pipe dream..
'Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) MUST become curable'.
A not for profit organisation, Wings for Life was founded in 2004 by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and the two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner after Heinz’s son, Hannes, suffered a spinal cord injury during a motocross race for charity.
Spinal cord injury affects people of all ages and backgrounds and is most commonly caused through road traffic accidents, falls, illness or sports. After an injury most people live through months, if not years, of rehabilitative therapy.
Spinal cord injury happens in a moment, but the impact lasts a lifetime.
Wings for Life fund world class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe, aimed at finding a cure for spinal cord injury. Their research focuses on how to minimise damage, stimulate repair and restore function after an injury to the spinal cord has been sustained. Scientists agree: injured neurons can regenerate.
Wings for Life therefore believe that spinal cord injury will be curable one day.
Pioneering UK Projects
The work of the WfL fund is wide reaching but there is one particular project, based out of St George's Hospital in South London, that they are particularly proud of.
Leading Neurosurgeon Professor Marios Papadopoulos is revolutionising the outcomes for patients who suffer a spinal cord injury.
In a nutshell, they want to create an established protocol or benchmark so that patients who are rushed to hospital with SCI are treated in the best way possible. It is extraordinary that this does not happen reliably already.
Sadly, the fact is that if you are ‘lucky’ enough to be admitted with a SCI to St George’s Hospital, you would be treated to the pioneering standards set by Prof. Papadopoulos. We know this because Wings for Life have funded his work for years.
However, if you are admitted to so many other hospitals, the chances are that you would be treated in the ‘standard’ way, with potentially devastating consequences for future mobility and lasting neurological and other secondary damage.
Treatment in that first, acute stage is critical.
WfL have propelled this work forwards in the UK and there will now be new phases added to the project that will be adopted by centres across Europe too.
With the right funding the project can expand to benefit all; an exciting moment for Wings for Life.
Sparkloop and Wings for Life
Sparkloop have an amazing partnership with Wings for Life UK; we design all creative materials for their fundraising events from start to finish, and have done for well over a decade.
We are proud to offer our creative work free of charge, knowing the massive opportunity for fundraising that the WfL events create. These fundraising events include their annual signature summer event, The Clay Day, which last year raised over £171,000; an absolutely staggering amount.
Thanks to Red Bull Company covering all administrative costs for Wings For Life, 100% of all donations and funds raised go directly to help find a cure for spinal cord injury.
Post pandemic, 2022 is an exciting year for Wings for Life as they are hosting brand new events including The Driving Force series and Gourmet Golf.
At Sparkloop we are thrilled to offer creative work that represents their brand, delivers their messaging and above all engages their audience. Ultimately we will continue to work closely with Wings for Life to bring ideas to life for all their events.
Donate
Progress in spinal cord research is largely driven by private funding so Wings for Life is dependent on donations from individuals and companies.
If you are able to, please make a direct donation: https://www.wingsforlife.com/en/how-you-can-help/#donate
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