Wendelin runs to ‘get children back on their feet’

Wendelin runs to ‘get children back on their feet’

Since inception, Al Jalila Foundation has encouraged thousands of motivated individuals and teams to raise funds by taking part in sports challenges. These endurance runs, triathlons, marathons and more have been instrumental to raising awareness and providing hope to patients suffering from chronic illnesses.

One of our greatest athletic Champions of Hope, Wendelin Lauxen, has once again completed the 7 Emirates Run to ‘get children back on their feet’.

In 2010 driven by his passion for running, Wendelin, holder of Guinness World Record for ‘Fastest time to complete a marathon on all 7 continents’, ran 575 kms solo across the UAE in 12 days. A chance meeting in 2013 with a little boy with severe congenital limb deformities and the allure of the UAE’s landscape inspired Wendelin to launch the 7 Emirates Run in partnership with Al Jalila Foundation.

Wendelin has organised the 7 Emirates Run under the slogan “Run for Help, Run for Health, Run for Fun”, and over 7 years has raised an astonishing AED 1.5 million for Al Jalila Foundation, to support life-changing surgery and postoperative medical support for children who suffer from deformities or amputation.

Giving children the gift of mobility is all the reward Wendelin could hope for, however, on completion of his recent solo 7 Emirates Run, he was recognised by the Dubai Sports Council for extraordinary athletic achievements and charitable endeavours.