Fundraising World Record round up
Melanie May | 24 June 2021 | News
Five great charity-related Guinness World Record achievements and attempts, from the largest online video chain passing a water bottle for WaterAid, to an attempt to achieve the record for the largest knitted letter for The Kirkwood.
The largest online video chain passing a water bottle
Employees at Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, have set a new Guinness World Record for the largest online video chain passing a water bottle. The new world record was officially confirmed by Guinness World Records on 7 June and raised a total of £1,500 for WaterAid. 709 global LSM staff took part by filming themselves virtually handing over a bottle of water from one to another. The footage was then combined into a single film. The previous world record was 464 people. LSM encouraged each person who participated to donate to WaterAid’s work and WaterAid employees were also encouraged to take part.
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Travelling the Thames the fastest in a pedalo
The Challenging MND Team have not only once again smashed the Guinness World Record for travelling the Thames fastest in a pedalo, but they are also now the first team ever to complete it non-stop. Travelling through the nights and battling torrential rain, the team led by Alex Gibson, a GB decathlete who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease four years ago, began the attempt on Wednesday 16 June. They completed the challenge in 51 hours and 59 seconds and beat their previous record by 7 hours. Gibson was joined by ex-England Rugby Union player Andy Long; Alun Thomas; and Joe Reed. Last August, Gibsno and the Challenging MND team made history by breaking the previous Guinness World Record and travelling the Thames (from Lechlade to Teddington Lock) in 2 days, 15 hours and 2 minutes.
Fastest mother and daughter combined-time half marathon
Mother and daughter Sarah and Aileen Kearney have set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest mother and daughter combined-time half marathon, and raised over £2,000 for The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity in the process. The pair achieved a collective time of 3:06:42, which beat the previous record holders by half an hour.
The largest K’NEX structure ever made
Royal British Legion Industries‘ social enterprise Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Co. (BBMC) are trying to find a new home for their Guinness World Record breaking K’NEX model of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car. The model took 1,287 hours to construct and consists of 383,422 pieces of K’NEX. It currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest K’NEX structure ever made. Over 70% of the workforce that built the project have either a disability or a long-term health condition, including workers with visual impairment. All involved are employed by BBMC, a social enterprise for veterans. The model was housed at the Transport Museum in Coventry but has now moved into temporary storage to make way for the actual Bloodhound SSC.
Largest knitted letter
The bi-annual WOVEN festival runs from the 5-27 June, funded by Kirklees Council, and with The Kirkwood as its charity partner this year. To kickstart the festival, a group of knitters and crocheters from across the district unveiled a rainbow-coloured yarn installation at Huddersfield Train Station. Named ‘The Big Rainbow Knit’, the installation has been hung from the pillars at the entrance of the station with £5,000 so far raised for The Kirkwood in sponsorships pledged by those taking part in the Big Rainbow Knit. It is also hoped that the K at The Kirkwood site might be awarded a Guinness World Record for the largest knitted letter, which will help raise awareness of the charity.
- Celebs join Guide Dogs for attempt at Guinness World Record for biggest virtual tea party (21 April 2020)
- PayPal sets world record on Giving Tuesday (11 January 2016)
- New world record set at 24-hour charity darts event (5 October 2009)
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.