On Thursday 4th March 2010, a spectacular new world record was set in London.
3234 participants exceeded all expectations by breaking the Guinness World Record for ‘the most children reading with an adult.’
The event, which took place at the London Muslim Centre in East London, was organised by IF charity, in partnership with Islamic Forum Europe, Muslim Aid, London Muslim Centre and Tower Hamlets Council.
Politicians and celebrities joined thousands of people, who came from across London to take part in the world record bid including journalist Victoria Brittain, BBC London presenter Asad Ahmed and Hedy Epstein, an 85 year old holocaust survivor.
Former stars from the BBC hit show The Apprentice were also present including, Ghazal Asif,Tre Azzam, Majid Nagra and Syed Ahmed. Baroness Pola Uddin,George Galloway MP, and the Leader of Tower Hamlets Council, Lutfur Rahman, also took part.
In a statement from the IF Team
“We would like to thank all those who took part and supported the BIG Read. This record really belongs to the whole community, our partners, media partners, trustees, volunteers and supporters without whom this world record not have been possible. Following on from Gaza 100- World Record Run, this is the second record we have brought to Tower Hamlets and are especially grateful to the people of this Borough. We will be issuing full details of the event over the next few days but in the meantime would like to acknowledge our exceptional gratitude to Mohammed Ali from Islam Channel and Ahmed Samad Chowdhury from Channel S, for their unwavering support and belief in our work”. A special thanks to Barrister Rizwan Hussain for all his ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘in front of the camera action’.
IF, with Tower Hamlets Council, the London Muslim Centre (LMC), the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) and Muslim Aid invites you to participate in the BIG READ; an attempt to break a Guinness World Record for “the most children reading with an adult” (Guinness Book of Records official title).
The current record stands at 3,032 achieved by The Kindergarten Starters School at Global Village in Dubai, UAE, on 12 November 2008.
In a 12-hour period up to 5,000 children are needed to listen to Roald Dahl’s timeless classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. To qualify for the record a child has to listen to an adult read for half an hour.
Schools, teachers, parents, pupils, celebrities and councillors will gather on 4th March 2010, World Book Day, to participate in this record breaking attempt which simultaneously aims to promote the importance of reading and literacy amongst children and create the largest shared reading experience in the World.
Date:
Thursday 4th March 2010
Time:
9am to 9pm
Venue:
London Muslim Centre, Whitechapel Rd, London, E1 1JX
Let’s bring this record to London on World Book Day!
Please note there is a £2 participation fee per child to cover the administration costs of the event.
All participants will receive an exclusive World Record Breaking certificate, only if we are successful at this record attempt.
For further information contact Naweeda Ahmad on 020 7858 2020 or email naweeda@ifcharity.com.
Closing date for registration is 26th February 2010.
