It's alwaysÌýinspiring to hear of people pushing themselves to achieve extraordinary feats. EspeciallyÌýwhen they do it to benefit others. We were thrilled with the success of the and the incredible showing of the great #JMextraMile Team.
OnÌý7/5/2023, 12 brave runners from Âé¶¹Ö±²¥app set out to make a difference byÌýrunning 157 km / 98 mi—an average of 13 km / 8 mi per runner. Not only was thisÌýa great showing, but their efforts also helped to raise money for spinal cordÌýinjury research. The team consisted of two runners from the United States and tenÌýrunners from Slovakia.

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What makes WFLÌýspecial is that all runners have 30 minutes to get ahead of the Catcher CarÌýbefore this moving finish line passes every last person in the race.Ìý
A specialÌýcongratulations goes to Steve Payne, Southwest Regional Services Manager, whoÌýwas able to cover 19.72 km / 12.25 mi before he was overtaken by the CatcherÌýCar. With this impressive performance he was the runner with the longestÌýdistance on our team. As all participants start running at the exact sameÌýtime, it was 5 AM when Steve went to his virtual starting line in Colorado, hisÌýheadlamp and the full moon providing minimal light.Ìý

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For AnthonyÌýHugs, Batch Mixer at our Defiance plant, it was already daylight when heÌýstarted running at 7 AM in Ohio. However, he also had to contend with nature’sÌýinfluences running in heavy wind and rain. Despite all odds, he fought hisÌýway through and was able to run 18.38 km / 11.42 mi.Ìý

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“TheÌýmotivational content that was broadcast through the WFL mobile app kept meÌýgoing,â€� Anthony reported after the race. “It praised runners when going at aÌýgood pace, and immediately urged to push harder when it noticed that one wasÌýslowing down. The stories of people affected by spinal injuries also helpedÌýkeep me running—nothing compared to the battle those guys are fighting.â€�

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Our runnersÌýin Slovakia did not join the flagship run in Vienna, Austria as usual,Ìýbut took part virtually close to our Âé¶¹Ö±²¥app site in Trnava. PeterÌýLazicius, Strategic Sourcing Specialist, was their quickest participant withÌý18.29 km / 11.36 mi.Ìý

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TheÌýbeautiful weather at their location not only ensured a positive atmosphere duringÌýthe run, but also afterwards, when the team came together for a well-deserved isotonicÌýsports drink. Some call it beer.Ìý

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Ultimately,Ìýthe group finished 1,097th out of 7,604 participating teams. 206,728Ìýtotal runners raised €5.8 million for spinal cord injury research. Our hats off!
BestÌýoverall male and female runners were Jo Fukuda from Japan with 69 km / 43 miÌýand Kasia Szkoda from Poland with 55 km / 34 mi.
CongratulationsÌýto our teammates and thanks to everyone for going the #JMextraMile! We areÌýalready looking forward to next year’s edition of Wings for Life.Ìý

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