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Army Cadets GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Preview

This Saturday 10 October 2020, to mark World Mental Health Day, the Army Cadets are attempting to break two GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™. Find out all about the attempts below.

Army Cadets GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Preview

8 October 2020

  • National

The first will see two of our National Ambassadors, Sally Orange and Jordan Wylie, attempt to run the Deepest underground marathon distance run (team), at ICL Boulby Mine, North Yorkshire. The marathon is appropriately titled “Beneath the Surface” to demonstrate how we never know what is going on underneath the surface in someone’s mind.

Boulby Mine is the World's first and only Polyhalite Mine and it will be no mean feat, as Sally and Jordan will always be running at a minimum of 1,000 metres below ground, so the shallowest portion of the course will be at least 1,000 metres below ground.

Speaking about the marathon Sally said, “It seemed a perfect opportunity to highlight a topic very close to my heart in a unique and challenging way. I have a real understanding of how difficult poor mental health can be and want to get it to a point where it is as normal to speak about as a common cold. We all struggle psychologically from time to time, it’s part and parcel of being a human being.”

Attempt two: Mass participation online

We wanted to involve all Army Cadets and Adult Volunteers in this important day too, so our second GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ attempt will be to set the record title for the most people completing an online mental health awareness course in 24 hours.

The outcome will be that after completion, each participant will be able to recognise the signs of poor mental health and help end the stigma.

Whilst Sally and Jordan are running underground the online mental health awareness course will be open to all members of the Army Cadets. The hope is that by Saturday evening the Army Cadets will have set two new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ titles.

Colonel Chris Young, Army Cadet Force Chief Medical Support Officer and National Mental Health Advocate, said, “Mental Health can affect anyone and this year to mark World Mental Health Day the Army Cadets will be attempting to set an official world record for the most people completing an online mental health awareness course in 24 hours. To help our Cadets and Adult Volunteers break down some of the stigmas associated with mental health whilst also setting a new world record is fantastic and I’m looking forward to everyone taking part on October 10.”

All Cadets and CFAVS can access the online mental health awareness course via the Cadet Portal. The process of cadets enrolling onto the Cadet Portal has now changed and it is even easier than before!

Cadets can now self-enrol by visiting https://www.portal.cadets.mod.uk/ and clicking register. Please note: Anyone attempting to register will need to know their cadet/service number.

Only cadets who have access to the Cadet Portal will be able to take part in the World Record Attempt, so please ensure you register ahead of the online mental health course going live on the Portal at midday on Friday

Already registered on the Cadet Portal?

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