By MIKE McCOMBS
If you caught a glimpse of a pink flamingo back in October on Fripp Island, it was likely a part of a record-setting flock.
Record-setting as in Guinness Book of World Records.
Fripp Island Resort and Pledge the Pink found out earlier this month that they had broken the Guinness World Record for the Longest Line of Garden Flamingos back on October 12 with a total number of 3,753 flamingos. The record was attempted in conjunction with Pledge the Pink – a three-day, three-island, 30-mile breast cancer walk.
Fripp and Pledge the Pink shattered the previous record, set in June 2018 by the Buffalo (N.Y.) Olmsted Parks Conservancy, by more than 2,000 plastic flamingos.
Jessie Baker, a marketing assistant with Fripp Island Resort, said it was “a pretty big process” to set up the display and then get it verified.
It took four hours for 50 to 60 people, mostly Fripp Island residents and volunteers, to set up the birds. Then they had to gather photo and video evidence and witness, as well as gain verification from the Guinness survey team.
The line of flamingos was 1472.87 meters long, or 4832.21 feet – just shy of a mile.
The display was the idea of Laura Morgan, the founder of Pledge the Pink. And the flamingos did hold a meaning.
Each flamingo in the attempt represented funds raised for one mammogram and there were 3,753 of them. The 2019 Pledge for Pink walk raised more than $400,000 to fight breast cancer.
“Every aspect of the record attempt took the hard work and dedication of so many people,” Fripp Island Resort and Pledge the Pink said in a release. “Guests of the island along with residents and staff took time out of their days to volunteer. Surveyors, witnesses, photographers, and videographers were required to be present at the event for record verification. The Resort and Pledge the Pink deeply appreciate every single person’s contributions to this event and we are excited for Pledge the Pink 2020!”
