Phoenix resident Ian Fecke-Stoudt said he hasn't determined whether he broke the guinness world record for most hugs in an hour during the First Fridays artwalk last week.Contest stipulations required media coverage, only one hug per person and that each hug wrapped all the way around the participants' bodies.
Although Fecke-Stoudt did hug 806 people and videotaped the event, he said he estimates not enough hugs met the requirement to break the guinness world records of 765.
Besides incorrect hugs, the 24-year-old Fecke-Stoudt had other challenges. The hugging occurred on Third and Roosevelt streets, even though it had previously been publicized at two different locations. Also, police stopped him after he illegally crossing the street to hug more people, which cut 10 minutes of his hugging time, he said."
I got a little bit overzealous, let the momentum of the moment get ahead of me," Fecke-Stoudt said. He said he still needs to watch video, and if he did appear to break the record, he will submit it to Guinness World Records.If not, he said, he has no plans to attempt a solo record again, though he may try to get at least 800 people to break the record together, with two lines of 400 people rotating with hugs. He said that may happen in July.
Fecke-Stoudt's endeavor raised $60 for the Phoenix-based non-profit Lodestar Foundation, which has a program that teaches art to the homeless. He had hoped to raise $1,000. Still, he said his world record attempt introduced him to some caring people in the community."There are a lot of people in Phoenix who feel the same way I do, that we need to do something to generally make Phoenix friendlier," Fecke-Stoudt said.
I got a little bit overzealous, let the momentum of the moment get ahead of me," Fecke-Stoudt said. He said he still needs to watch video, and if he did appear to break the record, he will submit it to Guinness World Records.If not, he said, he has no plans to attempt a solo record again, though he may try to get at least 800 people to break the record together, with two lines of 400 people rotating with hugs. He said that may happen in July.
Fecke-Stoudt's endeavor raised $60 for the Phoenix-based non-profit Lodestar Foundation, which has a program that teaches art to the homeless. He had hoped to raise $1,000. Still, he said his world record attempt introduced him to some caring people in the community."There are a lot of people in Phoenix who feel the same way I do, that we need to do something to generally make Phoenix friendlier," Fecke-Stoudt said.
