North Bay woke up Sunday with a potential new Guinness World record to its credit.
A group of Nipissing University students took time out from their Relay for Life activities at the Nipissing gymnasium overnight Saturday, to set a new world record in a ‘sounds easier than it actually is’ category: most number of people with arms linked standing up at the same time.
Justin Bereczki, who organized the World Record attempt, says it was a two year dream of his, that came to completion.
“The Guinness World Record really embodies the spirit of leadership because it is a group of more than 60 people coming together to literally do something that has never been done before in the entire world.”
“It’s just showing people that even one person can make a change, an impact.”
The previous record was 59, and the Nipissing Relay-ers actually totalled 69.
Students had to link arms, cross-legged. in a circle, then on a whistle, stand, without unlinking arms, or touching the ground with their knees.
It took several attempts, but on the fifth, after forty-five minutes of trying, the judges were happy that no knees had touched or arms unlinked, and the record was theirs.
The process was not easy either, as four recognized members of the community had to be on hand for the midnight attempt to either witness or judge the event.
The feat was also video taped, to be sent, with documentation, to the Guinness World Record people for verification.
Bereczki was thrilled that his two year dream had been realized, but just as thrilled that it came while the Nipissing students were spending the night at the gym as part of the Relay for Life.
“I think it’s a really great record to host at Relay for Life because it shows us that, like, and it sounds corny, but that we can lift each other up, we can bring each other up, and help each other out. That’s what the Relay is about, it’s working together and finding a cure. This whole performance this whole record really embodies that.”
It’s not an official record yet, however.
It will take several weeks for the record to be verified, but just the same, the students were confident they now have something else to add to their Nipissing University degree on their resume: World Record holder.
