More than 60 Christchurch Boys' High students have taken part in a bid to break the record for the longest continual team erg (rowing machine) by a group aged under-19.
The previous world record was 96 hours. But by the time the team finishes about 1pm tomorrow at a school assembly, in which cancer survivor and CBHS rower Ed Lopas will complete the final hour, the new record should exceed 140 hours.
The team passed the world record mark on Sunday, just before 2pm.
CBHS rowing team manager Ricardo De Sousa said the level of support has been amazing.
“We knew logistically it would be tough trying to organise 61 schoolboys but we are so proud of them.
"Not one of them has missed a shift - a few have cut it close but they’ve all done their bit.”
As of yesterday afternoon, they had rowed more than 1600km combined since their marathon effort began on Wednesday.
The team initially hoped to raise $5000, but yesterday their total stood at $21,145.16.
Ed, 16, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, in July last year.
After five months of successful chemotherapy, Ed was cleared to start physical activity again and hopes to row at the Maadi Cup regatta on Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel next month.
