Every 2 minutes, someone in the world sustains a spinal cord injury. Most never see it coming — a missed step on a ladder, a car accident, a split second that changes everything.
There is still no cure.
That’s why we at Balazs Boxing are proud to announce a $1,000 donation to Wings for Life — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated entirely to funding spinal cord injury research — in partnership with Fitness International, the company behind LA Fitness.
How This Came Together
It started with a phone call from Justin Lippolt at Fitness International. He reached out to invite Balazs Boxing to contribute as part of LA Fitness’s ongoing commitment to Wings for Life.
Andrew Lauden, our founder, didn’t need much convincing. He’d already run the Wings for Life World Run last year — joining over 300,000 participants from around the globe, all starting at the same time, all running for the same reason.
“Despite running by myself in Pennsylvania, it was wild to know that over 300,000 people around the globe were all running at the same time,” Andrew said. “It’s by far my favorite running event. The real-time interviews with injured athletes were reminders of how life can change in an instant from just missing a step on a ladder.“
What Wings for Life Does
Wings for Life is funded operationally by Red Bull, which means something unusual: **100% of every donation and entry fee goes directly to research.** No overhead deducted. No administrative cut. Every dollar funds scientists working to find a cure for spinal cord injury.
In 2025 alone, 310,719 participants raised €8.6 million in a single day through the Wings for Life World Run — one of the largest fundraising running events on earth.
The 2026 Wings for Life World Run takes place **May 10th**, with events in Dallas and locations around the world. The race is unique: everyone starts at the same time globally, running against a virtual Catcher Car that gradually speeds up until it catches every runner. Your distance is your result. There’s no finish line — only how far you can go.
Why This Matters to Us
Boxing is a sport that demands everything from your body. Our athletes, our customers, and the coaches and trainers who use Balazs equipment know firsthand what it means to push physical limits — and what it looks like when the body breaks down.
Spinal cord injuries don’t discriminate. They happen to athletes. To weekend warriors. To people climbing ladders. Supporting research that could one day restore movement and independence to millions of people worldwide isn’t a stretch for a company built on strength and resilience. It’s the most natural thing in the world.
We’re grateful to Fitness International and the entire Wings for Life team — particularly Brandon Peters and Matt Smidt — for making this partnership possible.
Join the Run — May 10th
If you want to participate in the Wings for Life World Run on May 10th, you can register and run anywhere using the Wings for Life World Run app. Entry fees go 100% to research.
– Learn more: https://www.wingsforlife.com
– Register to run: https://www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com
Run for the ones who can’t. 🥊
Balazs Boxing has been manufacturing premium boxing equipment for gyms, trainers, and athletes for decades. We build equipment that lasts — and we stand behind the communities that use it.
