subject: Park Town Junior Youth Group Joined Tens Of Thousands To Snooze For Charity [print this page] Remember the excitement of a sleepover, packing the midnight feast, girls getting ready for a good gossip and boys getting ready for some naughty antics? Well this excitement was had by many kids on Saturday! 30 children from Park Town Junior Youth Club (Luton) snuggled in their sleeping bags and tucked in to a midnight feast, trying not to be spooked by the surrounding of The London Dungeon the capitals most famous scare attraction. Over 20,000 kids across the globe kipped for charity helping break the Guinness World Record for the worlds largest sleepover over 24 hours, while raising funds for a variety of childrens charities.
Sleep was not the only thing on Saturdays agenda for the Park Town Junior Youth Club, they had a tour of The London Dungeon before trying to bed down for the night in the Torture Chamber surrounded by medieval torture instruments.
In addition, the UKs leading gums and jellies brand, HARIBO, sent its fun loving mascot, Goldbear, along to the event with a selection of games and treats for the children to enjoy. Goldbear encouraged the children to have a great time while raising money for some very worthy local causes and hopefully beating a world record!
Group leader, Jamie Kelly, comments; The children had a blast; I was not convinced we would be having much sleep but all the activity, fun and excitement wore them out! We are thrilled to have raised 500 for Keech Hospice in Luton, a charity that supports terminally ill children and their families.
Tens of thousands of children clad in their pyjamas, with sleeping bags at the ready came from all sorts of groups including schools, guide groups, pony clubs and sea cadets. The sleeping was not restricted to the school hall either with several sleepovers taking place in unique and unusual venues; kids were imitating Tarzan in a monkey forest, going back in time in a tin mine and York Dungeons and finding out if fish actually sleep having their big snooze in Sea Life centres across the country.
The Giant Sleepover has grown from just one schools commitment in 2003 to a well established annual event and Guinness World Record this year.
One of The Giant Sleepover founders Sandie Dinning comments; The kids have had a great time this weekend and I think the parents have quite enjoyed a night off too! What is great about The Giant Sleepover is that the kids have so much fun while also learning crucial social and behavioural skills and how they can play a part in helping others. This weekend has been a triumph for The Giant Sleepover with huge support from children who care.
