Local groups seek 30,006 helping hands

They’re looking for a helping hand — well, just over 30,006 to be exact — to break a world record.

Two Cork community groups have joined forces in an ambitious bid to set a new record for the world’s largest collage of cut-out hand-prints — and raise money for each other in the process.

The Linking Hands project is the brainchild of Ballincollig Community Forum.

Its community activists have organised the record-breaking attempt in the town this weekend to help Headway, an organisation based in the town that helps people with acquired brain injury, and The Gunners, a new soccer club also based in the town, for children with intellectual disabilities.

Organiser Cathie O’Neill urged people to come along to an open day at Ballincollig Shopping Centre on Saturday and help make history.

“The whole point of the Linking Hands project is to reach everyone in Ballincollig, and beyond, get them involved, and in the process, pay tribute to the community spirit shown by so many clubs, organisations, schools and groups in the area,” she said.

“We are asking everyone to buy a 12-inch square of material for €1, and draw the outline of their open hand on it, symbolising the hand of friendship and togetherness.

“They can then decorate the square any way they like and we, with the help of the local ICA, will sew all the squares together into a big, long banner we hope will stretch the entire length of the village by the time it is done.”

The current record of 30,006 hand-print cut-outs was set by the Scout Association at Baden-Powell House in London on Oct 23, 2007. Ms O’Neill said that record was now in their sights and she urged the public to get on board and help beat it.

Members of the Linking Hands working group will be selling the material squares at the shopping centre from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, and they will also help people decorate their hand-prints.

It is hoped that the collage will be ready for judging by adjudicators from the Guinness Book of Records next June.

There are also plans to unfurl the banner on the town’s main street next summer.