World record attempt for a cause

CEBU, Philippines – More than just a Guinness world record, the organizers of the Kick for Life:Football Marathon 101 also aims to help save more kids with congenital heart defects when Cebuanos do the attempt on November 26 to 30 at the D’ Family Park in Brgy. Talamban, Cebu City.

Statistics show that in every 100 babies, there is at least one with CHD and out of the 5,000 cases each year, only 500 go through the knife.

In Cebu alone, CHD cases are growing, says Let It Echo, a non-profit organization led by Kristofer Dominic and Hannah Almira Amora, parents of baby Maven who also had CHD. Maven is a living testament of what a helping hand can do, including from fund-raising events in football a few years back.

That inspired the Lexmark Football Club to spearhead this football marathon aptly called “Kick for Life.

As for the world record attempt, the organizers are aiming to go on for 101 hours to convincingly beat the current record of 72-hour football marathon held by United Kingdom.

The battle will involve two teams playing on an 11-a-side format on a modified FIFA (International Football Federation) rules since time of the match is targeted to end after 101 hours in time for the celebration of the Newborn Heart Defect Screening Awareness Day.

Currently, a pool of 53 players ares hoping to make it to the final cut that will be fielded in for the two teams, said lead organizer Alex Escala, a blue baby himself when he was born.Since the attempt is not an easy one since it is “non-stop”, the players will have to undergo long endurance training that will be supervised by no less than Jim Saret, the country’s top conditioning coach.

During the event’s formal launch the other night at the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu, Saret pledged full support to this good cause as he prepares the players to be on their best form possible.

“First, I hope this event will enlighten people on CHD. So yung players naman involved dito, kailangan din na i-prepare well.This is not easy. If it’s this easy, everybody will do this,” said Saret.

Those who will not be able to make the cut for the match proper will be utilized as referees or linesmen since the officiating officials also need to be well-conditioned especially that there will be no “flying substitution” for referees. Escala said the referees will have to be replaced on a specific schedule.

The Cebu Football Association is also backing up this noble undertaking especially on the technical side, while several other BPOs and football clubs are also pitching in support.

For those who want to help out raise funds for children with CHD, one may contact Hannah Almira Amora at 0922-8232782 or (032)-3810188. One may also log on to [email protected] or visit the event’s Facebook page, kickforlifefm101. (FREEMAN)