Emirates Stadium is hosting an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest game of Chinese Whispers today. The record attempt involving more than 1,500 children currently taking place is to raise funds for Arsenal’s Charity of the Season TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education, and Save the Children.
The record attempt will see children aged 7-11 from the Milton Keynes area, join forces with children from north London who participate in Arsenal in the Community initiatives and children’s groups associated with both charities.
With monitors from Guinness World Records? in attendance and cheered on by celebrity supporters and Arsenal legends, the children have formed a huge
circular formation seated in Emirates Stadium’s lower east stand to pass on a secret message.
The message is being passed from child to child around the circle until it arrives at the end of the chain and as with most games of Chinese Whispers, the final message is expected to be very different from the original.
Money raised through the event will be used to further TreeHouse’s plans to open a National Centre for Autism Education in north London and will raise money for Save the Children’s biggest-ever global campaign to stop the 10 million children who die each year before their fifth birthday.
The event partners have been working with all the children involved in the run up to the record attempt helping them practice the game, highlighting the value of face-to-face communications and raising awareness of the work of TreeHouse and Save the Children.
Ken Friar, Director of Arsenal Football Club comments: “The Club is honoured to participate in a record breaking attempt in the name of two worthy causes. This event is a great way to end a fantastic season-long partnership with TreeHouse and we wish everybody involved today the best of luck.”
Vicky Lincoln, Fundraising Manager at TreeHouse comments: “This is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness and educate the public about autism education. Although children with autism do find communication more difficult, education can make a dramatic difference. The fact that pupils from TreeHouse’s school are taking part in the Chinese Whisper record-breaking attempt is a great example of education enabling children with autism to participate alongside their peers.”
Tanya Steele, Director of Supporter Relations and Fundraising at Save the Children says: “Save the Children is asking people to be a part of our biggest-ever campaign to help save a child’s life. Through the Chinese Whisper Record Breaking attempt children from the UK will help save children’s lives around the world and show that it’s simple to save a life; we just need to spread the word and take action.”
Richard Bandell, Managing Director of today’s event organisers, BI adds: “Attempting to break a Guinness World Record for these two amazing charities at Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates Stadium is a hugely exciting challenge, but this event is all about enabling kids to help other kids and showing them that giving can be even more rewarding than receiving.”
