LA Fitness Parent Fitness International Raises Over $400K for Spinal Cord Research

The LA Fitness, Club Studio and City Sports Club owner rallied nearly 14,000 participants in support of spinal cord injury research through the 2026 Wings for Life World Run

Fitness International is celebrating multiple milestones in the name of advancing spinal cord injury research, thanks to a partnership with Wings For Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation.

The company is celebrating the first year of its partnership with the foundation, after galvanizing a team of more than 13,900 participants across its brands LA Fitness, Club Studio and City Sports Club for the 2026 Wings for Life World Run.

The company raised nearly $428,000 in its first year for spinal cord research, as its teams accounted for over one-third (36%) of all U.S. registrations for the international running event.

“What we witnessed through this year’s Wings for Life World Run was the incredible power of bringing incredibly kind and generous people together to achieve a shared goal,” said Fitness International president of club operations Jill Hill.  “To see nearly 14,000 participants from LA Fitness, Club Studio, and City Sports Club unite in support of spinal cord injury research has been truly inspiring. “

Fitness International concentrated its energy on member engagement, club participation, fundraising initiatives and nationwide awareness efforts across its 673 clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada to leverage a massive fitness community in support of the Wings for Life mission.

“The support from Fitness International and its club communities has been extraordinary,” said Wings for Life USA CEO Andrew Wagner. “Their members and team members embraced this mission in a powerful way, helping create three of the largest teams in the world for this year’s event. Their passion, energy, and commitment are helping us move closer to finding a cure for spinal cord injury.”

The Wings For Life World Run is known for uniting participants — runners, walkers or wheelchair participants — simultaneously across the globe to raise funds for spinal cord injury research, with 100% of all donations raised going directly toward funding research projects and clinical trials worldwide.

As part of the foundation’s partnership with Fitness International, the company committed to contribute $250,000 annually from 2026 through 2028 through direct corporate donations, sponsorships and community fundraising initiatives across its North American locations.