World Record attempt to raise funds for A Day for Thorpey
A group of intrepid cricketers aim to break the Guinness World Record for the Highest Altitude Match ever played - in aid of Day for Thorpey.
A party of 30 players will head for Ojos Del Salado in Chile, the highest volcano on earth, in February 2027, looking to raise £150,000 for Day for Thorpey, in aid of Mind, and Rays of Sunshine, a charity that brightens the lives of seriously ill children across the UK.
The attempt would break previous world records for the highest ever cricket match set at Everest Base Camp (2009) and Mount Kilimanjaro (2014). The game will be a T20, under ICC approved rules and regulations, played in a disused volcanic crater on an astro wicket at 6,000m above sea level.
The expedition is being led by James White, the founder of Sixes in the City, a long standing charity cricket tournament between groups of friends, which has raised more than £11,500 for different charitable causes.
Up til now, the funds raised to support Thorpey’s Bat and Chat have come from the annual event during the Kia Oval Test Match. In its inaugural year, the initiative raised over £170,000 allowing for 10 programmes to be delivered nationwide. James’ expedition, alongside Surrey staff member Maddie Sheppard’s triathlon earlier this year, marks the first time that challenge fundraising has been undertaken in order to support the programme.
Speaking at the Kia Oval on Day for Thorpey, where he is volunteering for Mind, James White said: “That spirit of coming together, doing good and using cricket as a force for connection has always been at the heart of what we do. After leaving university, this challenge is our way of keeping that tradition alive.
“The world‑record attempt is our next step to use cricket to create impact and raise money for great causes through doing something remarkable.
“We feel very strongly about the two charities that we’ve chosen to fundraise for. We picked Day for Thorpey, in aid of Mind, because we believe in the importance of human connection and the benefits of using cricket to bring groups of people together, particularly to support their mental health.
“Rays of Sunshine support seriously ill children across the UK by granting magical wishes and providing ongoing support in hospitals and within the community. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us all which we are very fortunate to be able to set out on. We hope that the funds we raise can help bring some inspiring experiences to life and provide the support necessary for the families.”
