Press Release
December 14, 2020 • 4 min read
Stand with us this Christmas and cover 10,000 virtual GOAL Miles together!
A family of “serial” Guinness World Record breakers have smashed 4 new world records to support the work of GOAL.
The multi-talented Hickson family from Annascaul, Co. Kerry, achieved their incredible records doing unique sporting activities over a mile on Saturday (Dec 12th) to promote the much-loved annual GOAL Mile, which due to COVID-19 is going virtual this year.
This brings to 20 the number of world records set in the last 6 years by the super-fit family. The new records have to be authenticated by the Guinness Book of Records and the family have assembled all the relevant evidence before it is made official.
The impressive records were achieved at An Riocht running Track in Castleisland. Co. Kerry. on Saturday.
- Sandra Hickson, (40), a psychiatric nurse in Cork, completed the Fastest Mile carrying a 40IB pack in 8 minutes 5 seconds beating the current record of 9 minutes.
- Nathan Missin, (34), (Sandra’s partner), a commercial pilot, achieved his first world record doing the Fastest Mile Carrying a 60lb pack in 6 minutes and 54 seconds beating the current record of 8 minutes.
- Nathan also did a double and achieved Fastest Mile Carrying a 100lb pack in 7 minutes and 29 seconds, beating the current record of 9 minutes 25 seconds and
- Jason (28) and Nathan did the Fastest mile with a 50KG person on a stretcher in 10 minutes and 52 seconds, beating the current record of xxx
Over the years the siblings Eamonn, (33) (who did not take part in the latest record attempts due to injury); Jason, Sandra and Susan have broken 16 world records ranging from doing the fastest mile wearing handcuffs; undertaking the longest journey ever reversing a tractor and trailer and the most lunges completed by a female in sixty seconds.
Due to COVID-19 movement restrictions and to ensure public safety the GOAL Mile, now in its 39th year, is going virtual this Christmas. Last year GOAL Mile events were held at 170 locations around Ireland attracting approximately 50,000 people over the days of Christmas.
By going virtual with the mile GOAL is giving people all over Ireland, and the Irish abroad who cannot travel home for the holidays, a unique opportunity to connect and register to do their mile at a time and place of their choosing over Christmas – either running independently or in their safe social bubble. GOAL is hoping that 10,000 people will register to do a virtual GOAL Mile.
To support the Virtual GOAL Mile the Hickson family set themselves the target of smashing the 4 new mile records in the hope of making the Guinness Book of Records again, and inspiring people to do a run, jog, walk, cycle, swim (or whatever they choose!) over Christmas to support GOAL’s lifesaving work in 14 countries in Africa, The Middle East and Latin America.
Speaking after their successful record attempts on Saturday family spokesperson, Eamonn Hickson, said: “We are absolutely over the moon that we have broken 4 new world records. Our motivation for our latest efforts was to support the incredible work that GOAL is doing in 14 countries all over the world. It was a tough few months training, but it was worth it!”
“We are hoping that we will inspire Irish people at home and abroad to connect in a special was this Christmas by sharing the GOAL Mile experience together. We may not be together physically as normal due to COVID-19, but we can be together in spirit and in our actions.”
GOAL CEO, Siobhan Walsh, said: “Our global team of workers are absolutely inspired by the Hickson family. The countless hours invested by the whole family to achieve the record-breaking results is just extraordinary. The Hickson’s are a symbol of hope in a year that has been extremely challenging for people here at home and for our staff who have been working tirelessly to support million of the most vulnerable families.”
She added: It has been a very challenging year, so on behalf of the entire GOAL team, a huge congratulations and thank you to the Hickson family for going the extra mile for GOAL. We hope many more will be inspired to register as every single person who supports the GOAL mile will be helping very vulnerable families in need. Now more than ever, we need this support.”
Since March GOAL has supported over 17 million people in its 14 countries in preventing the spread of the virus, rolling out COVID-19 awareness programmes and teaching people the importance of keeping a safe distance, wearing masks, and observing a handwashing regime.
Register now and help GOAL hit the magic 10,000 miles in the spirit of helping those in need.
