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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Red Bull Run Stretches Along Santa Clarita Roads

Thousands of Santa Clarita residents participated in an innovative global charity race May 8 in support of the Wings of Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation. The race was held worldwide in 33 countries at the exact same time. More than 130,700 runners participated, raising a record-breaking $7.5 million for spinal cord injury research. “There was an overwhelmingly positive response from runners and the cities of Santa Clarita, Calif. and Sunrise, Fla.,” Julio Garcia, World Race Director for the Wings of Life Santa Clarita location, said in a statement. “They urged the World Run to come back for a third year. Though unique in culture and scenery, the two U.S. host cities provided similar challenges to race participants.” The 3rd annual Wings for Life Race was founded by Austria-based Red Bull in collaboration with the Wings of Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation in 2013. The nonprofit research organization based in the U.K. and Austria was founded in 2004. It helps fund projects, research and clinical trials around the world. Red Bull covered all costs associated with the race and 100 percent of proceeds went to the nonprofit. To date, Red Bull has raised more than $16 million in entry fees and donations through World Races. In Santa Clarita, the race shut down city streets and occupied 85 kilometers of open road. Runners, walkers and wheelchair participants started the race at 4 a.m., while participants around the globe ran at the same time. Interestingly, the race did not have a stationary finish line, but rather a moving “Catcher Car” acted as the finish line. The car took off 30 minutes after the race started and increased its speed incrementally over time. As long as runners stayed in front of the car, they remained in the race. But once the car passed them, their personal race was over and the car recorded their time. The Catcher Car in Santa Clarita was driven by U.S. Trophy Truck champion Ricky Johnson. “From a sporting perspective, developing innovative sports formats is at the heart of Red Bull’s DNA – from Air Race, Crashed Ice, Cliff Diving and X-Fighters – to now the Wings for Life World Run,” Garcia said. One male and female winner from each of the 38 races worldwide was selected. The Santa Clarita winners were Samuel Bradbury, who came in at near 38 miles, and Maibritt Daugaard who came in just under 31 miles. “The mentality going into this race is different than anything I’ve done before because there is no finish line,” Bradbury said in a statement. “As I was running I was thinking about how everyone else around the world was doing, knowing that there were other people out there pushing the limits and surprising themselves on achieving goals they didn’t think were possible.” Mobile Pantry Sherwood Cares, a charitable foundation created by Thousand Oaks’ Sherwood Country Club, has donated $20,000 to Food Share and Friend Mobile Pantry in Oxnard this month. The mobile pantry serves the communities of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi Valley, in addition to other communities in the greater San Fernando Valley. The donation was given in support of Food Share’s Share16 campaign, an initiative designed to raise funds, food and awareness for Ventura County residents in need. “Sherwood Cares serves children and families in our community by supporting programs that address education, medical, nutritional and safety needs,” Pat Henahan, Sherwood board member, said in a statement. “We’re very favorably impressed by Food Share’s longstanding leadership in serving our hungry friends and neighbors and are delighted to support the Share16 movement.” Valley Tastes The Valley Cultural Center, the San Fernando Valley event production nonprofit, held its 17th annual Taste of the Valley festival on April 21. As it was last year, the event was held atop of Macy’s parking structure at the Westfield Topanga mall. Attendees sampled wines, microbrews and additional beverages from more than 100 vendors, in addition to sampling tastes from more than 40 restaurants. Sponsors included Westfield Corp., Larsen’s Steakhouse, PF Chang’s China Bistro, Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant and Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Based in Woodland Hills, Valley Cultural Center has been in the Valley since 1975. The nonprofit is a go-to resource for performing and visual arts, and all proceeds from the Taste of the Valley event went to fund the organization’s programs. Staff Reporter Champaign Williams can be reached at (818) 316-3121 or [email protected].

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