Six hundred students, teachers — both male and female — parents, and members of the community of Ballina will don their high heels today, Friday, in an attempt to gain a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most entrants in a high heel race. Students have organised the race as part of Kellogg’s Jump for Joy Schools Challenge, which encourages students to get active while raising much needed funds for Crumlin Children’s Hospital. The people of Ballina are being urged to strap on their high heels and get involved as a minimum of 1,000 participants are needed to break the existing record.
The race will begin at 11am from Market Square, Ballina. Registration is from 9.30am to 10.30am in Brennan’s Lane Pub. In order to meet the criteria of the Guinness Book of World Records the heel of each shoe must be over three inches in height, there must be photographic and video evidence, and the local gardaí must be in attendance.
St Mary’s Secondary School was a 2008 regional prize winner in the Kellogg’s Jump for Joy Competition raising more than €10,000 for the hospital. The race organisers, teachers Annette Leonard, Sinead Leonard, and Ciaran Allen, are very excited about the world record attempt. Annette said: “We’ve had great success raising money for Kellogg’s Jump for Joy in the past and hopefully this year will be our best yet. We’re really looking forward to watching the male teachers attempt to run in high heels. Achieving the Guinness World Record for a high heel race would be an added bonus.” Following the race the students will be returning to the school hall for a celebratory disco.
Funds raised from the event will help to finance Crumlin Children’s Hospital Solas Project and the Clown Doctor Programme. Solas is a unique online network that enables children to stay in touch with friends and family as well as play games and listen to music while staying at the hospital. Through the Clown Doctor programme, a team of professionally trained actors dressed as clown doctors visit young patients every week to spread fun and laughter throughout the hospital wards.
