For professionals in the manufacturing industry, science is a primary focus of our work. From product designers to metrologists inspecting components, scientific principles and methods are at the forefront of the manufacturing professional’s mind and conversations.
While science of course guides everybody’s life every day, it is not every day that the workings of science is everybody’s focus. That all changed in 2020.
Suddenly everyday conversations were saturated with topics related to epidemiology and pandemic modelling. Scientists were front and centre on screens in our homes, discussing the advances of vaccines and strategies for protecting healthcare provision.
2020 and COVID-19 emphasised how crucial science is to our daily lives and brought scientific innovation into focus around the world. From developing vaccines to helping students and professionals continue to study and work from home via cloud technologies, scientific innovation has helped people as our lives have been transformed by unforeseeable circumstances.
This is one of the guiding principles of Wings for Life, a non-profit that funds scientific research and clinical trials that aim to find a cure for spinal injury. The charity was founded in 2004 by two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner and Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz after an accident left Kinigadner’s son tetraplegic.
One of the organisation’s major fundraising events is the Wing’s for Life World Run. In this unique event, runners and wheelchair users go as far as they can and after 30 minutes the finishing line races towards them in the form of the ‘Catcher Car’. The Catcher Car slowly speeds up until the last participant is caught.
While since 2014 many of these races have been held as in-person events around the world, the charity also innovated a Wings for Life World Run App, allowing you to take part virtually. The beauty of this option is that allows you go to at your own pace while raising money for an amazing cause.
Since 2014, the Wings for Life World Run has been raced by over 700 000 participants from 195 nations completing 7 million kilometres and raising almost €30 000 000 for spinal cord injury research.
Given our affinity for technological innovation, Wings for Life has been Hexagon Manfuacturing Intelligence division’s global charity partner for over half a decade. It is with great pride many of us at Hexagon will again put on our running shoes and join the 2021 Wings for Life World Run.
As the world continues to keep watch on the development of life-changing technologies, there’s never been a better time to support Wing for Life’s inspiring work. If you’re interested in joining in the World Run in 2021, visit the Wings for Life World Run website.
