PARAPLEGIA MUSTN’T REMAIN A QUESTION OF FATE.
Heinz Kinigadner and Dietrich Mateschitz, Founders of Wings for Life
The history
“It’s no longer a question of if, it’s a question of when.”
Prof. Ulrich Dirnagl, Charité Berlin
The administrative costs are covered by the founders. 100% of your donation goes to spinal cord research.
“One must never give up hope!” These were the words of Heinz Kinigadner when he was faced with his son’s diagnosis “paraplegia” diagnosis, after Hannes was involved in a crash during a charity motocross race.
Hannes Kinigadner had his accident in 2003, at the age of 19, and has been tetraplegic ever since. His fate is representative of approximately 3 million people worldwide who are paralyzed due to an injury to their spinal cord.
Deeply moved by the fate of his son, the two-time Motocross World Champion founded the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation in July 2004, together with his friend, Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
Inspired by existing successes in research, the ambitious aim of Wings for Life was defined as follows:
Spinal cord injury must become curable.
In order to realize this vision, Wings for Life supports and finances the most promising research projects worldwide aimed at healing the injured spinal cord. An international scientific advisory board, consisting of the world’s most renowned scientists and medical doctors from the relevant areas, helps Wings for Life to select the most promising research projects.
The world’s leading scientists agree that paraplegia, caused by a traumatic spinal cord injury, will be curable one day. For a major breakthrough in science to be achieved, a lot of research needs to be done. With focus, diligence and the absolute will to reach the aim, our foundation moves step by step towards our goal.
ICCP Membership
ICCP guidelines for experimental treatments
What you should know if you are considering participation in a clinical trial.
Download of the complete booklet for people with spinal cord injury, their families, friends and caregivers.
Summary ICCP Guide | 1 MBSince 2007, Wings for Life has been an active member of the International Campaign for Cures of Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis (ICCP). The ICCP is a body of affiliated non-profit organisations working to fund research into cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury. Other members of ICCP include well respected foundations such as the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the International Spinal Research Trust.
The coalition’s mission is "to expedite the discovery of cures for spinal cord injury paralysis". To that end, the main tasks of the ICCP are to secure highest quality standards in spinal cord research, establish accurate guidelines for clinical trials and identify relevant medical fields with acute research demand.
