Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School is putting out a request for participants and marshals when it aims to make history on 14th November by stealing the Guinness World Record for the largest amount of people simultaneously executing burpees from the current world record holders, the Dubai Police Force. A burpee is a full body exercise move used in strength training.
The school is undertaking the huge challenge to promote fitness while also raising funds to equip their new sports hall with a fitness studio and new sports equipment.
1,500 participants are needed to break the world record on the school field on the morning of Thursday 14th November, World Record Day. While almost 1,000 students are taking part, the school still needs to find a further 500 participants plus 150 marshals to observe and make sure the burpees are carried out correctly.
“The whole school is really excited to be putting Borlase and Marlow on the map, and we hope that by doing so we can also raise funds that will directly benefit thousands of students and young athletes both today and well into the future,” explained Ms Mountfield, the school’s headteacher.
“We are really hoping the local community will join in and support us. The challenge itself only lasts two minutes and it is about how many take part, not how many burpees are completed in the time frame. We welcome all ages and abilities. It will be amazing if the community could come together to make history!” she added.
Stuart Lewington, owner and trainer at Immortal Fitness, will be on hand to guide the participants in their world record attempt.
“Everyone can benefit from exercise and it is fantastic that Borlase is advocating an exercise challenge as a way to raise money to help keep our kids fit and healthy,” he said. “A burpee is not as terrifying as people think and, as it is just for two minutes, even those new to exercise can take part. I really hope people sign up to make Borlase’s dream a reality!”
Tickets to take part, which can be purchased online, are £5 each and can be found, along with further information about the event, by clicking this link.
As well as participants, the school is also in need of 150 marshals. Marshals do not have to do any burpees or pay an entrance fee, but will be there to observe and confirm that the challenge has been completed to the standard expected by Guinness World Records. A brief training session will be held for volunteer marshals on the morning of the challenge. Any person or organisation who could help with marshalling the event is asked to please contact Ilona Cains, Director of Development at Borlase, on 01628 816519 or via icains@swbgs.com.
Participants will need to purchase tickets online via www.swbgs.com in advance and then register their arrival in person between 8.30am and 9am at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School on West Street, Marlow, on Thursday 14th November. The Burpee Challenge attempt to break the world record will commence soon after 9am.
The Dubai Police Force have been the world record holders for The Burpee Challenge since 2017.
“We really want to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records and so hope that the people, companies, organisations and community of Marlow will join our children on the field on World Record Day to help us claim the world record; what a monumental achievement that would be!” added Ms Mountfield.
