Thousands of volunteers connected Bray to Greystones on Sunday (11 May) for a Guinness World Record attempt to create the world’s longest ever Awareness Ribbon Chain – and all in support of The Caroline Foundation’s attempt to raise €100,000 for cancer research.
Over 3,000 volunteers gathered between the seaside towns of Bray and Greystones in North Wicklow to connect reams of special white ribbon bearing the logo of The Caroline Foundation, along an 8km route taking in harbours at both ends and weaving along the dramatic Bray Head Cliff Walk which links the two towns. Over 39,000 individual bands of 10-inch ribbon were sewn together to cover the distance.
As the sun broke through the clouds at midday for the official attempt the civil law notary, Patrick Jones, confirmed that the challenge had met all criteria as laid down by Guinness World Records (GWR) for the longest Awareness Ribbon Chain. Now the Foundation will submit the specified evidence to support the claim to GWR this week and official confirmation of the successful attempt is expected within 3 days of its being received. More importantly much-needed funds towards the €100,000 target were raised for The Caroline Foundation’s research into targeted therapies for cancer as well as for Bray Cancer Support Centre and Greystones Cancer Support Centre.
"It was stunning to see the ribbon unfurl," said the founder of The Caroline Foundation, Helen O'Sullivan-Dwyer who was also the driving force behind the World Record attempt. "It was like a giant snail had clambered over the foothills and beaches of Wicklow leaving a white trail behind. It was a wonderful event that conveyed a sense of community, care, and neighbourly solidarity".
The Caroline Foundation was set a year ago by Helen O'Sullivan-Dwyer following the death of her step-daughter Caroline Dwyer-Hickey (35). Caroline, a primary school teacher, fought a nine-year battle with cancer. During that time she not only inspired others through her quest to live every moment to its maximum but she was also a committed public advocate for cancer research and firmly believed that research will one day find a cure to cancer.
Caroline was a patient of Professor John Crown from the time of her being diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2004. Having benefited from clinical trials in both Ireland and the US Caroline was a pioneer of cancer research and was the first in Ireland to participate on some trials with Professor Crown through the Cancer Clinical Research Trust (CCRT) in Dublin.
Following her passing The Caroline Foundation was set up by CCRT in conjunction with Caroline’s family and friends. The voluntary organisation is as a constituent part of CCRT and all funds raised go directly to CCRT. The funds raised through yesterday’s World Record attempt will support CCRT research on targeted therapies for cancer, in particular breast cancer and melanoma, by The Caroline Foundation Research Fellow Dr Norma O’Donovan.