Children Help Great Ormond Street Hospital in Guiness World Record Attempt!
Patients in the hospital did not miss out as a week of Peter Pan themed activities took place in the Activity Centre which was transformed into Neverland. Peter Pan Week kicked off with Lost Boys day where Paradise Park brought in a bearded dragon, a snake and a tortoise. This was as close as we could get to Captain Hook’s nemesis the Crocodile! Mystical Fairies held a Tinkerbell and Mermaid Day on Tuesday followed by Red Indian day where patients and siblings made headdresses and dream catchers.
On Thursday – Pirates Day – children were treated to a special visit from Captain Hook and Peter Pan who had an impromptu sword fight and then launched a treasure hunt. Author Geraldine McCaughrean also popped in to read to the children from her book, Peter Pan in Scarlet.
The Week culminated in Peter Pan Day on Friday 7 March at 9.15am sharp, where children attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people reading aloud the verse 'To the Top' from Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean, simultaneously in multiple venues.
Schools all over the country participated in Peter Pan Week. 250,000 children were needed to take part in the Big Time Rhyme World Record Attempt in order to smash the existing World Record. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity will use the money raised to help fund a new, state of the art renal (kidney) unit at the hospital.
Anna Roche, Head of Youth Fundraising at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity says, "We are thrilled that so many children have taken part in our first ever Peter Pan Week and attempted to smash the Guinness World Record! The charity is very grateful for their generosity in helping us fund the new renal unit for children at Great Ormond Street Hospital."
Peter Pan in Scarlet, by Geraldine McCaughrean, the only official sequel to JM Barrie’s Peter Pan is published by Oxford University Press and is now available in paperback at all bookshops RRP £6.99.