Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Pssst……Emirates Stadium to host ‘Chinese Whispers’ World Record Attempt for TreeHouse and Save the Children.....pass it on!

Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates Stadium is set to host an attempt to break the Guinness World Record™ for the longest game of Chinese Whispers.



The record attempt involving more than 1,200 children will be staged on July 11th on behalf of Arsenal’s designated Charity of the Season TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education, and Save the Children.



Organised by BI, the UK ’s leading communication and motivation company in partnership with Arsenal FC, TreeHouse and Save the Children, the record attempt will see children aged 7-11 from the Milton Keynes area, join forces with children from north London who participate in Arsenal in the Community initiatives and children’s groups associated with both charities.



With monitors from Guinness World Records™ in attendance and cheered on by celebrity supporters and two Arsenal legends, the children will form a huge circular formation seated in Emirates Stadium’s lower East Stand, before starting the Chinese Whisper with a secret message.



The message will then be passed from child to child around the circle until it arrives at the end of the chain and as with most games of Chinese Whispers, the final message is expected to be very different from the original.

Money raised through the event will be used to further TreeHouse’s plans to open a National Centre for Autism Education in north London and will raise money for Save the Children’s biggest-ever global campaign to stop the 10 million children who die each year before their fifth birthday.



The event partners will be working with all the children involved in the run up to the record attempt helping them practice the game, highlighting the value of face-to-face communications and raising awareness of the work of TreeHouse and Save the Children.



A dedicated website www.chinesewhisperworldrecord.com has been launched by the partners to assist with fundraising and track the progress of the Guinness World Record™ attempt.



Vicky Lincoln, Fundraising Manager at TreeHouse comments: “This is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness and educate the public about autism education. Although children with autism do find communication more difficult, education can make a dramatic difference. The fact that pupils from TreeHouse’s school are taking part in the Chinese Whisper record-breaking attempt is a great example of education enabling children with autism to participate alongside their peers.”



Tanya Steele, Director of Supporter Relations and Fundraising at Save the Children says: “Save the Children is asking people to be a part of our biggest-ever campaign to help save a child’s life. Through the Chinese Whisper Record Breaking attempt children from the UK will help save children’s lives around the world and show that it’s simple to save a life; we just need to spread the word and take action.”



Ken Friar, Director of Arsenal Football Club comments: “This promises to be an exciting event here at Emirates Stadium, the Club is honoured to participate in a record breaking attempt in the name of two worthy causes. This event is a great way to end a fantastic season-long partnership with TreeHouse and we wish everybody involved in the day the best of luck.”



Richard Bandell, MD, BI adds: “Attempting to break a Guinness World Record for these two amazing charities at Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates Stadium is a hugely exciting challenge, but this event is all about enabling children to help other children and showing them that giving can be even more rewarding than receiving.”






For further info please contact:

James Holmes / Kate Moloughney at Limelight Public Relations

j ames@limelightpr.co.uk / kate@limelightpr.co.uk

Tel: 0207 201 0600.



About BI

BI produces measurable business improvement by positively influencing the behaviour of people through communication and motivation. Its solutions help companies acquire retain and grow business with their customers by keeping employees and channels motivated and focused on delivering exceptional results. This is achieved through BI’s core services: events and performance improvement programmes. These are supported by BI’s dedicated in-house creative and technology solutions teams.



BI works with a wide range of blue-chip clients, including: Peugeot, Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBoS), Vodafone, Aston Martin, Roche, Shell, the AA, BMW and HP. Part of the $400 million, US-based firm Schoeneckers Inc, BI employs more than 1000 associates throughout Europe and North America . From its European base in Milton Keynes , BI’s creative and results-driven approach has earned the company a reputation for delivering outstanding service to its clients.



About TreeHouse



Registered Charity No: 1063184

TreeHouse is the national charity for autism education. Our vision is to transform through education the lives of children with autism and the lives of their families. Established in 1997 by a group of parents, TreeHouse runs a school for children and young people with autism and campaigns for better autism education nationally. We undertake policy and parliamentary work and research to ensure autism is a national priority; support parents to campaign locally and offer training and consultancy on autism education. For further info about our work please visit www.treehouse.org.uk



About Save the Children



Registered Charity No: 213890

We are the world’s independent children’s charity. we are outraged that millions of children are still denied proper healthcare, food, education and protection. we are working flat out to get every child their rights and we are determined to make further, faster changes. How many? How fast? It is up to you. For further info about our work please visit www.savethechildren.org.uk