WE DID IT! Guinness World Record Breakers | 11/4/26
Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon for Cancer Awareness
After months of hard work and preparation, in an extraordinary display of unity, compassion, and community spirit, we officially achieved a Guinness World Records for "Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon in 8 Hours" in support of cancer awareness.
Our founders, Mandeep & Em, brought together hundreds of individuals to take part in a powerful Guinness World Records Attempt aimed at tackling cancer loneliness and raising awareness for those affected by the disease.
In a remarkable milestone, there were not one, but two world record attempts including the Largest Human Awareness Ribbon – both being UK firsts. While the ribbon attempt didn’t have the needed numbers of 8265 people, the team secured an incredible achievement: a Guinness World Records "Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon in 8 Hours" with 891 signatures! Knowing these attempts had never been done before in the UK made the success even more meaningful, and the win even sweeter.
"Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon"
Hope to Connect & Guinness World Record Participation Certificate - £5.00
Officially approved by the Guinness World Records team, this beautiful personalised digital participation certificate for our record breaker, "Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon" carries the Guinness World Records branding and Hope to Connect - a beautiful collaborative and meaningful keepsake, that upon purchase, will be emailed directly to your inbox ready for you to download, save, and print.
Note: When ordering, you'll be asked for the exact name to be added on your certificate. Please kindly ensure the name you provide is correct, as certificates are created exactly as submitted and cannot be amended once issued.
"Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon"
Guinness World Record Participation Certificate - £25.00
A beautiful personalised digital participation certificate for our record breaker, "Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon" - a meaningful keepsake purchased directly from the Guinness World Records store with the option to purchase frames and medallions.
"Largest Human Awareness Ribbon"
Hope to Connect & Guinness World Record Participation Certificate - £5.00
While we didn't succeed in the "Big One", we made a valiant effort together, and as such, all that participated in the Guinness World Records attempt of the "Largest Human Awareness Ribbon" are entitled to purchse this officially approved, beautiful personalised digital certificate. It carries the Guinness World Records branding and Hope to Connect - a beautiful collaborative and meaningful keepsake, that upon purchase, will be emailed directly to your inbox ready for you to download, save, and print.
Note: When ordering, you'll be asked for the exact name to be added on your certificate. Please kindly ensure the name you provide is correct, as certificates are created exactly as submitted and cannot be amended once issued.
"Largest Human Awareness Ribbon"
Guinness World Record Participation Certificate - £25.00
A beautiful personalised digital participation certificate for our record breaker, "Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon" - a meaningful keepsake purchased directly from the Guinness World Records store with the option to purchase frames and medallions.
The event saw overwhelming support from across the UK, with participants travelling from Birmingham, Northampton, London, Brighton, and even as far as Ireland to stand together in solidarity. Hosted in the heart of Suffolk at Trinity Park in Ipswich, the day was filled with connection, emotion, and a shared purpose to ensure no one facing cancer feels alone. Attendees shared personal stories, united in strength, and filled the space with an outpouring of love that defined the true spirit of the day. 💞
"Hope to Connect so clearly brought their mission to life through two record attempts. The successful attempt for the 'most signatures on an awareness ribbon in 8 hours' saw a steady queue of contributors waiting to add their name throughout the day, and the final piece looked very impressive. Part of the verification process required confirming that each signature was unique, and it was incredibly powerful to verify 891 individual names, each representing a person and their own story.
Alongside this, the attempt for the ‘largest human awareness ribbon’ was full of ambition, colour and team spirit. Although the organisers and participants knew they did not have the numbers required to surpass the existing record, they still chose to stand together in formation to create the image. It was incredibly powerful to witness that moment as it spoke volumes about the true purpose of the event. Congratulations to Hope to Connect and all who participated. You are Officially Amazing!" - Joanne Brent, Guinness World Records Adjudicator
The event raised over £2,500 for five chosen cancer charities and in addition, “Hope” - the crowdfunder car - was signed by hundreds of attendees as a powerful symbol of the shared journey of hope the community will continue together, as Mandeep and Emma now focus their efforts on the wider mission of building the Hope to Connect app, the world’s first friendship and companionship app for people touched by cancer, helping to reduce cancer loneliness and nurture human connection.
“This was never just about breaking a record,” said the founders. “It was about bringing people together, creating connection, and showing that no one has to face cancer in isolation. The support has been beyond anything we could have imagined.”
Mandeep and Emma would also like to give special recognition to their top sponsors, Fleximize and East of England Co-op, whose support helped bring this vision to life. A heartfelt thank you goes to Tesco Martlesham for fuelling the incredible volunteers throughout the day, and the team of volunteers made up of family, friends and supporters, whose dedication ensured the event ran so smoothly. They also extend their sincere gratitude to all suppliers who offered support, guidance, and generosity at every step of the journey.
Official event photos and keepsakes, including Guinness World Records participation certificates, will soon be available, alongside a range of merchandise to commemorate the day.
This landmark achievement not only celebrates a world record but highlights the power of community in driving awareness, support, and lasting impact.
Photo Credit to Owen Broom from Broom Films, Akashya Chigathia and Tony Southgate
We are delighted to offer special edition hoodies, which you can buy buy here: https://hopetoconnect.com/shop.
If you were part of the Guinness World Record event and had your photo taken of you signing the Giant Cancer Awareness Ribbon for the Guinness World Record Official Record Breaker “Most Signatures on an Awareness Ribbon” you can now purchase your photo! 🎗
Whether you’d like a digital copy to keep forever or a beautiful physical print to treasure, there’s an option perfect for you. We’ve also included this EPIC moment from the official attempt of the Largest Human Awareness Ribbon where we received the official record holder’s certificate (a moment we will never forget!). 💕
Simply, scroll through the gallery, find your photo, and pick the format that suits you best. These photos will be available until 11th June 2026.
Why This Means Everything to Us
Cancer is something that touches so many lives across the world, but nothing prepares you for how traumatic it is when it becomes your diagnosis, or when it takes the people you love most. Emma is one of the co-founders of Hope to Connect and here’s her story:
"My journey with cancer has been long, frightening, exhausting, and at times utterly devastating. It has tested me physically, emotionally, and mentally in ways I never imagined possible. Living with cancer is not just about treatment plans and hospital appointments - it’s about fear, uncertainty, loss of control, and the constant weight of not knowing what comes next."
"Along this journey, I have been supported by incredible cancer charities. Cancer Support Suffolk have not only supported me personally during some of my darkest moments, but they have also stood beside Hope To Connect, the dream that Mandeep and I are determined to bring to life for others facing a cancer diagnosis.
Hope To Connect was born from lived experience - from loneliness, fear, grief, and isolation. Mandeep (my fellow co-founder of Hope to Connect) and I both know this world far too well, but from different sides of the cancer journey.
Mandeep has lost people she loves deeply to cancer. Those losses have left a lasting impact on her life and shaped who she is today. Living with grief, watching people you adore suffer, and then having to carry on without them is something that never truly leaves you. Cancer didn’t just take her loved ones, it changed her world.
She wants to honour the people she has lost by helping others feel less alone. She wants to turn grief into something meaningful. And she wants to help create a future where connection, understanding, and support are easier to find when cancer turns life upside down."
A message from Mandeep - "Cancer is traumatic. It doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed - it ripples out to families, friends, children, and entire communities. It takes so much from you - your health, your energy, your confidence, your plans, and often your sense of safety, not forgetting the so many "What if?" thoughts that race through our minds. When you are touched by cancer, support is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. That is why supporting these charities means so much to Em and I.
These organisations are there when people are scared, overwhelmed, grieving, or exhausted. They offer comfort, information, understanding, and community at a time when life feels unbearably heavy. They believed in Hope To Connect. And they continue to support countless others who are walking this path right now.
This Guinness World Record event was about turning pain into purpose. It was about bringing people together to raise vital funds for five incredible cancer charities. It was about creating something positive from something so painful. And it was about showing that even in the hardest moments, kindness, connection, and community can still shine through.
For the event, we set up a community Just Giving page for these charities and raised just over £2500. We were so delighted that we could do a little something to help them, and we're so grateful to all those in our community, our new family, for getting behind our mission.
Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for supporting these charities. And thank you for helping us give back, together. 💗"
Hope to Connect World Record is sponsored by Top Sponsors:
Copyright© 2025 Hope to Connect™. All reights reserved. Company registration number: 16350510. Registered address: 167-169 Great Portland Street, London, England, W1W 5PF.
*Disclaimer: In the situation where the founders of Hope to Connect® do not raise the needed funds to successfully build the Hope to Connect® app, the balance of seed funding raised will go directly to Macmillan Cancer Support. Terms of Service.
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