It’s a feat that will take stamina, patience and some pretty tough calluses on his fingers, but acoustic guitar player Spirit is aiming to break the Guinness World Record for “longest marathon playing guitar” in Richmond next week.
Starting on Monday, May 7 at 10 a.m. and playing until Saturday, May 12, the River Rock Casino Resort will host the acoustic live looping artist, as he aims to play for at least 116 hours. The previous world record, achieved by David Browne in Ireland in 2011, was just over 114 hours of guitar playing.
According to Spirit, the rules set out by the Guinness World Records state that he can take a five minute break for every hour of playing that he completes. He can bank those minutes, meaning he can get a two hour break for every 24 hours that he plays.
While he plays, Spirit also hopes to raise $10,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of his mother and father. The River Rock has already pledged $1,000 for every day that Spirit plays.
Spirit lost both of his parents to cancer – his dad died from pancreatic cancer while his mom died from melanoma.
“I'll always think of myself as a fortunate person. Why? Because I have the opportunity to live my passion by performing music for a living and share this gift with others,” says Spirit on his Canadian Cancer Society fundraising page.
“The recognition of these gifts I've been given starts with my parents…They were an integral part of my musical beginnings - which I'm sure they knew.”
For more information on Spirit’s fundraising efforts, visit his Canadian Cancer Society campaign page.
