YMCA of South Hampton Roads announces plans to beat current record for world’s longest cycling class
YMCA of South Hampton Roads Announces plans to beat current record for world's longest cycling class
The Y’s “Guinness World Record Ride to 25” event on October 20th will serve to beat record, raise money to keep kids safe in the water
Norfolk, Virginia, September 7- In partnership with MacArthur Center’s Live 360° initiative, The YMCA of South Hampton Roads has announced plans to lead a Guinness Book of World Records event on October 20th inside MacArthur Center. The hope is to break the current world record of longest cycling class, currently held at 25 consecutive hours. The event will benefit the Y’s Annual Giving Campaign, specifically to provide swim lessons to kids throughout South Hampton Roads, Northeastern North Carolina and the Eastern Shore of Virginia who would otherwise not have the opportunity to participate in programs that teach water safety.
To participate, riders can choose from an individual or team registration, with participation fees potentially covering up to 23 swim lessons per registration. For riders, the event offers a two-fold benefit—the opportunity to take part in breaking a world record while having their participation aid in providing swim lessons to community kids.
As previous hosts for the YMCA of South Hampton Road’s Traveling Y series, MacArthur Center has been a gracious partner in the Y’s cause to strengthen community. MacArthur’s Live 360° series, which serves to give access to healthy living activities throughout the community, just as the Traveling Y series does, became the perfect avenue for the Y’s Guinness World Record Ride to 25 event and is providing the space for the event as an in-kind donation to the Y. “When two organizations that have what appear to be two very different operational purposes can find a common thread and consistently work together to make our community stronger and advance each other’s missions, like the Y and MacArthur Center have done, that tells you your community is already focused on a better us,” says Anthony Walters, Chief Strategy Officer for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads.
The Y stresses that though the need for basic water safety skills is important everywhere, it is exponentially higher in areas surrounded by water, like Coastal Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina where the YMCA of South Hampton Roads operates its 19 locations. “The shared desire to help our community by keeping kids safe in and around the water, no matter their ability to pay for swim lessons, is what will make this event successful,” says Annie Filer Vogt, Vice President of Financial Development for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads.
MacArthur Center and the Y plan to hold the event in the mall’s Center Court on the first-floor main event area, with a planned 150 cycle bikes filling the space. Riders will ride to surpass the currently held 25-hour record, with a mandatory single instructor and at least ten core riders to remain the same for the course of the event in order to qualify for the world record.
About the YMCA of South Hampton Roads
The YMCA of South Hampton Roads is a nonprofit, community-based health and human services organization that serves over 250,000 children and families throughout Coastal Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. More than 30% of those families receive financial assistance through the Open Doors program, whose funding is made available by the generosity of donors, helping them achieve their full potential in spirit, mind and body. The Y’s doors are open to people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and incomes.
The Y: We're for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
About Live 360°
Live 360˚is an engaging program designed for the community, by the community. Through the support and involvement of community leaders and influencers, MacArthur Center strives to create a space to foster happy, healthy communities. MacArthur Center will serve as the host for an interactive program of classes, demonstrations, workshops and more - allowing the community to actively engage around their interests.
MacArthur Center, located on Monticello Avenue in downtown Norfolk, features one million square feet of retail offerings, including Hampton Roads’ first Nordstrom and the region’s flagship Dillard’s department store. Shoppers can explore more than 140 stores including Nordstrom, Apple, J.Crew Michael Kors and Fink’s Jewelers. Entertainment and dining options occupy approximately 25 percent of the tenant mix.
For more information, please visit ShopMacArthur.com and for additional information about the mall’s owner and operator, Starwood Retail Partners, visit StarwoodRetail.com.
For more information about Live 360° contact Karen Husselbee, Marketing Director, MacArthur Center, 757-314-4413.