Unique charity challenge makes bid for record books
A UNIQUE charity event has been hailed a great success by organisers - and could now make it into the Guinness Book of Records.
Members of Storm Leisure Military Fitness, led by Newtonhill fitness instructor Norman McConnachie, took it in turns to carry an 86kg tractor tyre from Holburn Bridge in Aberdeen to the Heritage Centre in Peterculter on July 3. The group, consisting of six women and 10 men, completed the seven-mile journey in just one hour 19 minutes and 30 seconds.
Each of the group took it in turn to step inside the tyre and carry it as far as they could, as fast as they could, before passing it on to the next person.
The team was made up of people drawn from Norman's Military Style Fitness Classes which are held in and around Aberdeen with weekly open-air sessions in the Duthie Park, Hazlehead, Tullos, Seaton and in Gordon Park, Ellon.
Mr McConnachie said: "The day was really good, there was a really good turn-out with lots of people cheering us on. I had no idea how long it was going to take us but I was hoping for a good time and what we did was so good I want it considered for a world record. We were fairly motoring along!
"I think some people thought we would just be going for a stroll but we decided to run it. There were a few stiff shoulders at the end - some of the girls were struggling with gripping the tyre, but they did really well. It flew by really quick!"
Mr McConnachie has already been in touch with the Guinness World Records to find out what the team's next move should be to get their feat onto its legendary pages, and he has not ruled out trying to beat the time later this year.
Funds raised from the event will go to the Forget-Me-Not Club, a Deeside organisation which supports people with dementia and their carers. A final total has not yet been tallied up, but
Mr McConnachie, who has organised previous fundraising events for Help for Heroes and Cash for Kids, is hopeful the sum will be in excess of 1000.
Ruth Morrison, Forget-Me-Not's Fundraiser, said: "The Forget-Me-Not Club can't thank Norman and his team enough for what they did. There were raised eyebrows and looks of astonishment when this was first mentioned – it's a long way from coffee mornings and raffles – but it shows what can be done with a bit of imagination and determination."
She added: "It was a hot day so it was even more of a challenge for the team - it was good to hear they had such a good time on the journey. We won't know what the final total is for a couple of weeks but every penny is welcome and will be used locally to support people with dementia and their carers.
"The club comes to Stonehaven for a week twice a year, to Jubilee House, so some clients and their carers can have a break. Perhaps some of this money will be used to fund the September holiday.
"We would love to hear from anybody who can come up with an equally original and novel fundraiser."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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