Midland could be home to several new Guinness World Record holders if all goes according to plan this winter. Several riders are hoping to make history during the Sledheads 4 Kids 24-Hour Relay for Kids snowmobiling fundraising event.
Organizer Josh Fuller and co-founders Erik Clayton and Dave Ragogna came up with the idea to ride for a full day after another industrious sledder in New Brunswick took up a similar goal to raise funds for less fortunate children.
The concept is simple: ride for 24 consecutive hours to raise money for Amici Children’s Camp Charity, and hopefully set a new world record along the way. As avid snowmobilers, they’re excited to make history and help send kids to summer camp.
“Between Eric, myself and Dave, we were always fortunate enough to go to summer camp,” Fuller said. “Due to the cost of living right now, it’s getting harder for families to afford to send their kids to camp. I know the cost of camps is extremely expensive, but we want to do our part to help.”
This event will have four world record attempts over several weeks. One more 24-hour male team relay, one for 24-hour female team relay, one for the world’s largest snowmobile, and a 24-hour youth relay featuring Fuller’s son, Jackson.
“My wife said: ‘How exciting would it be a for a young guy who’s so passionate about snowmobiling, so passionate about giving back, how cool would it be for Jackson to have a world record attempt,’” Fuller said. “I couldn’t ask for a better son to do it with. He has a huge heart and he just wants to help people.”
Ever the entrepreneur, Jackson even has his own clothing line called “Life Full Tilt.” A portion of proceeds from apparel sales will also benefit Amici Children’s Summer Camp. Jackson’s world record attempt will take place on land at the Great Northern Exhibition in Stayner on February 23, 2024.
Meanwhile, the male and female teams will embark from Midland Bay on separate days, with the female team riding on February 10, 2024, and the male team on February 15, 2024.
Fuller along with his event co-founders Clayton, Ragogna and Marc Lafantaisie are aiming to break the current world record for the most distance covered over a 24-hour period by a male team, which is 3350.38 kilometres.
The female team consists of Brook Lippert, Arianne Bown, Louise Mitton and Jessica Laporte-Lafantaisie. There currently isn’t a Guinness World Record for the female snowmobile rider team, so the women’s crew will break new ground in this category.
The teams will travel out onto an 8.05-kilometre strip from Pete Peterson Park out to Midland Bay and they will switch out riders approximately every 75 minutes. All the riders are undergoing rigorous training to build their endurance for this gruelling event.
They originally planned the world record attempt this past winter, but due to unfavourable conditions, they rescheduled for 2024. Fuller says it may have been a blessing in disguise as the extra time allowed them to make the event bigger and better with additional events.
Besides the three sledding world record attempts, Sledheads 4 Kids is spearheading the world’s largest snowmobile parade, called “Braapapalooza” and happens January 20, 2024, weather permitting.
There are so many ways to support the Sledheads 4 Kids Campaign. You can donate directly to help send kids to camp, local businesses can become sponsors of the event, and you can cheer on the riders by attending any of the three rider world record attempts in the coming weeks.
To find out more, visit Sledheads4Kids.ca.