Guinness World Record Break
2017 – This event also helped me stand back up. Emotionally anyways… It was a jolt into the power of music; the loudest therapy without needing to speak or move (unlike the rehab hospital).
Two years after the last guitar raffle, I I heard there was a guy who was going to try and break a world record in the town next to mine! I learnt it was that Kevin Ker fellow, from that music festival I was in! Whaaaat?!
Video: Melanie Ng from City TV News interviews some core member of the event (along with Kevin Ker (brown jacket).
It was SO MUCH FUN being the main Facebook person for the event! (Of course, other team members also helped fill in more pics/video when I wasn’t there). Although made jokey posts as a filler, what meant most to me was being trusted to help the with the evidence of taking pics and some video. I was involved in something- I felt needed and useful- I was part of something BIG, and was thriving in it.
Picture: Planning committee, Mom & I, Aaron from the BTFC, THE Magical Guitar & of course, the big cheese Kevin Ker.
Being part of something big to do with music? How exciting! This also served as an incredible distraction, as had full head and spine radiation just 2 years prior. (6 years post BT surgery).
I joined the planning committee with Mom & took on doing the Facebook coverage which was going to be part of the evidence for the official record break!
Each day, a different charity benefited from the entry ticket sales.
I hold close the memory of asking Kevin if one of the days could benefit the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. Without hesitation, he said yes! I reserved March 26th to be 1 of the 17 charities. PERFECT day to finally raffle off my old guitar aka The Magical Guitar.
True to nature, I had to have some fun with the posts. I got an idea (muhahaha)… I researched former Guinness World Record Breakers & found the PERFECT person, who I had send us a personalized message! Here’s who I found: ‘The Burper King of London England’ who holds the GWR for the LOUDEST burp!!! (Yes, you read that right – I STILL laugh every time I watch this! haahhah)
I barely knew anyone, but it didn’t matter- music brings people together. What kind of music did they play? Oh, a little of EVERYTHING! I love all music – but when it comes to hearing covers of Bob Marley, I sing loud and ‘dance’ proud – I am free.
We were more than half way through this 17 day challenge, of the worlds longest concert my multiple artists when “my” charity day arrived: March 26: The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. PERFECT day to raffle off my old guitar!
Aaron and Eileen (from the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada) manned the table for and kept an eye on my black beauty for a while, and some of our dedicated volunteers took over.
The poster advertised this guitar was worth $2000, and in small font under wrote because that’s how much this cheap guitar raised for charity followed by, always read the fine print 🙂
At the end of the day it was my turn to reveal how much was raised for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada; those 24 hours worth of admission tickets, 50/50 draw, donations, and, of course, my beloved guitar.
I was told how much my guitar raffle raised. It was as if the music stopped. ‘that’s it?’ I remember feeling my stomach dropped.
It was time, I was supposed to share the grand total to the roaring crowd in between the short band changeover time.
I felt heart broken again over this guitar. It should have been more. I couldn’t bring myself to ‘suck it up’ to come out- ME- instead of choosing to be the one to proudly announce the grand total to the roaring crowd.
I heard the back room when the grand total was announced:
We raised an astounding $7,663 for the BRAIN TUMOUR FOUNDATION OF CANADA!!!
Eventually I got over that blender of feelings – it especially helped when learnt who won the raffle…
Fast forward to near the end of this record attempt. Tensions/excitement were high, while the planning crew and our essential volunteers worked their butts off behind the scenes, putting out fires.
There were even threats to sabatoge our attempt by a fellow world record attempt competador. *cue creepy music*
The energy in the room was, well….
Fast forward to near the end of this record attempt. Tensions/excitement were high, while the planning crew and our essential volunteers worked their butts off behind the scenes, putting out fires.
There were even threats to sabatoge our attempt by a fellow world record attempt competador. *cue creepy music*
The energy in the room was, well….
The community came together to attempt to brake the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for ‘THE LONGEST CONCERT BY MULTIPLE ARTISTS’, and
WE DID IT!!
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BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
This sweet success was also complimented by learning the total amount raised for the 16 charities!
Reminder: All event admission tickets, event tshirts, and each charity had a rep who manned and raised money ex 50/50 draws.
The SUCCESSFUL Guinness World Record Break by EMG went 16+ Days, 24 HOURS STRAIGHT, AND BENEFITTED 16 CHARITIES!?! WOW! All together, we raised an incredible
*DRUM ROLL*
$90,000!!!! thats
NINETY. THOUSAND.DOLLARS!!!
My favourite memory of this entire event: However long it was after my guitar raffle went -a couple days?- guinness event still going on, I was on break having lunch in the downstairs area by myself. The blaring music of the event was thankfully muffled, while excited chatter of attendees at the bar. I could hear the table across from me. I remember my ears perking up like when a squirrel realizes they’ve been spotted. I heard someone at that table say “guitar raffle”.
The winner of The Magical Guitar was their son (a young boy) who was told about how truly special the guitar was.
UPDATE: this story was from almost 10 years ago…. I wonder what happened with that young boy and my old guitar? I wonder if it misses me?