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World Record Breakers with Make A Wish, Tesco & Disney

In November 2008 an exciting idea to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation became a reality. The idea was to create the largest image made from tea lights in order to break a Guinness World Record. In conjunction with Disney, pins were sold in all Tesco stores enabling the cost of 27,000 LED tea lights to be accrued. This meant the charity secured 1 euro for every pin sold in store and amazingly the record was achieved.

The hype began at 7am with a group of 35 transition year students arriving at Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre. The image of Donald Duck’s head lay on the floor of the mezzanine level stretching approx 30 x 40ft and the students began to lay the tea lights. By 1pm the image was completed bar three lights and the party began - balloon modellers, face painters, story tellers all began to entertain the crowd to a musical background in anticipation of the arrival of two very special guests. 

Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck who had travelled all the way from Disneyland Paris arrived and were greeted by the roars of excitement from the children who had gathered. Together with three Make A Wish children, Mickey Mouse laid the last three lights and the Guinness Record Breakers representative announced that we had indeed set a new world record for the largest image ever created with LED lights. It was an amazing success and it is with pride that Backup can say they were part of such a wonderful achievement.