Misfits Softball Club from the East Midlands League is attempting a Guinness World Record for the Longest Softball Marathon to raise money for a local charity that supports children and teenagers who are seriously ill, and is looking for players to complete the two teams that will take part.
The Marathon will begin at 12.00 noon at West Park, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 4AA on Wednesday 22 August and end at noon on Monday 27 August. It’s part of the rules that players must be on site for the whole event, so camping will be available and food will be provided for players through donations from local restaurants and supermarkets.
Guinness World Records will allow a maximum of 40 players for the event (two teams of 20) and it is important to have the full number of players so that the 120 hours of playing time can be shared out evenly.
At the moment, there are eight spaces left to fill (for four men and four women).
Close to home
Support for the charity -- Nottingham Hospitals Charity – is close to everyone’s heart at Misfits Softball Club because the charity helped care for the nephew of one of the club’s players, who sadly passed away at the age of 17.
Jay Oxley, from Keyworth, Nottingham, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin‘s Lymphoma and battled with cancer for a year. After his bone marrow transplant there were complications, and he sadly died in January 2017. The club wants to raise money in his memory to help other children and their families who are going through a similar journey.
The club will be closely involved with the charity in deciding where the money is spent, and it is likely to go towards equipment needed on Ward E39 where Jay was treated.
More information
There is more information about the Softball Marathon on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/longestsoftball/, and players can sign up through an email address on that page.
A promo video for the event, including stories told by Jay Oxley’s family and members of the team, can be seen here.
The club recognises that it is a big commitment to make, but hopes that enough people will come forward from the British softball community to fill the remaining places for the Marathon teams.