ABU DHABI // On Sunday afternoon, when the temperature climbs to nearly 40°C, Chris Khouri says there will be no excuses for not participating in the Wings for Life World Run in Dubai.
The 42-year old Dubai resident and race ambassador will be among the walkers, joggers, triathletes and marathon runners who will be taking part to raise money for the Wings for Life Foundation – a non-profit spinal cord research foundation that aims to find a cure for injuries which affect nearly 3 million people worldwide.
A paraplegic with little control of his body from the chest down, Mr Khouri’s life changed six years ago after a motocross accident in the desert of Dubai.
“It was a regular weekend, a beautiful day, and I fell, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“I knew right away. I looked at my legs, and they didn’t belong to me.
“It was a bit out of character for me, but I had this voice in me that said this is my new reality.
“Instead of giving up, something in me said, I’m going to fight this.”
Years later, his dedication and determination have brought the run to the UAE, and it is unlike any other marathon event.
On Sunday, 90,000 Wings for Life participants in 35 races, in 33 countries, are expected to set off from a start point at 3pm UAE time, and thirty minutes later, a “catcher car” will depart from the same point.
The car starts travelling at 15kph, gradually increasing in speed each hour.
Once a runner is passed by the car, they are eliminated.
Last year, Lemawork Ketema of Ethiopia ran 78.57 kilometres before being caught.
Dubai will be the only city in the region to host the run this year, which follows the inaugural event last year that saw a total of 35,397 runners worldwide raise US$4 million (Dh14.6m).
But bringing it here had its own challenges. Weather conditions and the timing of the race – at the start of the work week – were cited as obstacles, but Mr Khouri “would not take ‘no’ for an answer”.
“I said, ‘Why is it taking place in 33 countries and not in the UAE? We always have everything and we are always are the first to do everything. Why not?’” he said.
“My motto, particularly since my accident, has been ‘No excuses’.”
He organised an unofficial trial run of the event in Dubai last year in which 250 runners raised US$20,000 (Dh 73,500).
“The result of it is that both Red Bull and the Wings For Life Foundation said let’s put Dubai as one of the destinations,” he said.
With the foundations laid by Mr Khouri, this year’s event, which begins at the Dubai Autodrome, is being organised by Red Bull, which pays the operating costs around the world, allowing 100 per cent of the money raised to go to research.
Registrations are triple those of last year, and runners can sign up on race day.
“People will find excuses not to come, but I don’t believe them,” he said.
To get people to come out, he said he has spoken directly with the bosses of certain runners who ended up getting the day off work.
“Yes, it’s hot,” he said. “How do you think I overcame the fact that I am in a chair every single day, dealing with the challenges that I deal with?”
With no race finish line, Mr Khouri said he is particularly attracted to the symbolism of that particular aspect of the event, as it relates to the circumstances of his injury.
“Today, for me and millions of other people with spinal cord injuries, the reality is we don’t see the finish line. I have no idea where my finish line is,” he said.
Regaining the ability to walk would be “nirvana”, but spinal cord injuries can affect bowel, bladder, and sexual functions, can result in 24-hour pain, and often put a significant burden on family members, he said.
“The day will come when my shoulders won’t carry me anymore, and I will need help with the most basic functions in my body, and I don’t want that day to come,” he said.
“If one, two, or three of the current research projects that are currently happening can help me with that, imagine how my quality of life can improve.”
“I’m going to prove to everyone that I can do it.
“You are your own driving force.”
esamoglou@thenational.ae