You’ve got to take care of your balls and protect them as much as possible.
That’s the mantra for anyone wanting to succeed in a game of paintball, whether you’re a novice or an eagle-eyed sniper.
It’s also the case when it comes to the nationwide fight against testicular cancer, the most common form of the disease in men aged 15 to 34. And that’s the very reason why Richmond Indoor Paintball (RIP) has decided to dedicate the world’s first Guinness Book of Records attempt at the longest paintball game to raising the awareness of the disease.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, four teams of four players — who’ve all been raising funds for Testicular Cancer Canada — will compete non-stop for 24 hours.
“This is the first attempt at the record,” said Ryan Fitzgerald, owner/operator of RIP on Westminster Highway, near No. 2 Road.
“We really want to raise the awareness of testicular cancer as it affects young males, which is our demographic. Protecting your balls and taking care of your balls is a big part of our game, as is the fight against testicular cancer, so it seemed a good match-up.
“We are going to do it in teams of four, doing it in four-hour shifts, so it should work pretty well.”
Fitzgerald estimates the teams will burn through about 40 to 50 cartons of paintballs with 2,000 in each box, meaning up to 100,000 shots could be fired.
Testicular cancer occurs most often in men between the ages of 20 and 39 and is most common in white men, especially those of Scandinavian descent. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, it’s estimated that in 2015, 1,050 Canadian men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer. In 2010, 40 Canadians died from testicular cancer.
