Wings for Life eBay Auction

March 11, 2008, 6:44am

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 11, 2008) – More than 45 one-of-a-kind items will be up for bids on eBay’s Wings for Life Charity Auction this March 13-30. With just a click of the mouse, buyers get the chance to own David Coulthard’s actual Red Bull Racing Formula One race car, Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White’s 2008 X Games helmet, motorsport legend Travis Pastrana’s signed jersey and skateboard star Ryan Sheckler’s signed board. Even aviation enthusiasts can get their fill with a Red Bull Air Race World Series weekend package for two including a two-seater flight with the Series’ current world champion, American Mike Mangold. All proceeds will benefit the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation – and all bids start at just 2 dollars!

Athletes from around the world have donated memorabilia and trophies that cannot be purchased anywhere but in this auction. Additional contributions include items from international superstars, such as Cyril Despres’ Dakar-winning 2007 KTM bike, 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden’s racing helmet, B.A.S.E. jumper Felix Baumgartner’s jump suit and World Champion surfer Sofia Mulanovich’s surfboard. All of the items are original, signed and open to public bidding.

A SALE TO SAVE LIVES

Wings for Life co-founder and two-time Motocross World Champion, Heinz Kinigadner, has a very personal connection to this auction. He started the Wings for Life foundation for his 23-year-old son, Hannes, who became a paraplegic after suffering a severe motocross injury in 2003. Kinigadner’s brother Hans, also a motocross athlete, has likewise been bound to a wheelchair since 1984. Wings for Life began as a collaborative effort between Kinigadner and Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2004, although its aim has never been solely to aid action sports athletes. Since more than 90% of all spinal cord injuries occur while people are doing everyday tasks such as riding in a car, hiking or working on a roof, the founders know that no one is immune to the grief and pain that paralysis brings.

The foundation’s goals are four-fold: (1) fund cutting-edge scientific research aimed to heal spinal cord injury; (2) improve scientific communication in this specific field of research; (3) develop concrete, clinical intervention strategies; and (4) prevent spinal cord injuries from ever happening.

REV UP THAT MOUSE

The charity auction to benefit Wings for Life starts on March 13 and runs through March 30. All items are on sale to the public and bidding begins at 2 dollars – even on the Formula One race car! To place your bid during these dates, visit www.wingsforlife.com/ebay.

To view a full list auction items, learn more about Wings for Life, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.wingsforlife.com. For all media inquiries, please contact Ellie Applen at ellen.applen@us.redbull.com (310) 460-4532 or Heidi Jahraus at heidi.jahraus@us.redbull.com (310) 460-5152.