Frequently Asked Questions

The event is a Guinness World Record attempt to create the largest human cancer awareness ribbon, bringing together thousands of people in a powerful visual display of unity, remembrance, and support. Love and remembrance for those lost to cancer, support for those currently battling cancer and celebration of carers, friends and family.

It is designed not just as a record-breaking moment, but as a national movement to raise awareness, honour loved ones, and unite communities affected by cancer.

The organisers aim to bring together 8,265 people together to form a giant human cancer ribbon. The current record was achieved in 2015 by a princess in Saudi Arabia, who brought together 8,264 people.

For the official Guinness World Record attempt to be qualified, every participant must wear a bright coloured hoodie, poncho, raincoat with hood, jacket with hood or cap and matching tshirt, so their torso and head are covered.

Adults (16+): £9.95

Children (under 16): £4.95 (must be accompanied by an adult)

Important: Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Date: Saturday, 11th April 2026

Time: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Record attempt at 3:00 PM)

Location: Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich (Google Maps)

To participate:

1. Purchase your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/hopetoconnect/1945471

2. Prepare your hoodie, poncho, rain coat or matching cap and tshirt (please see guidelines below for acceptable hoodies and ponchos).

3. Be on site by 2.30pm at the very latest.

4. Bring your friends, family, colleagues, the neighbour, the posty... let's get 8265 people and break this record :)

Participants must wear a single BRIGHT colour covering their torso and head. This can be a hoodie, a poncho or a cap and t-shirt. For ponchos, here's a guide.

Yes, all attendees who take part in the record attempt can access a free digital Official Participant Certificate, or purchase a printed certificate on the day. The perfect keepsake and proof of involvement in the UK's most significant cancer awareness official Guinness World Record attempt of its kind :)

Yes. But it's all very simple...

1. Participants must wear a single BRIGHT colour that covers their torso and head. This can be a hoodie, a poncho, a cap with matching t-shirt. Choose a colour representing a specific cancer type (you can find a full list here). This is a strict requirement to ensure the ribbon is visually clear for the official record attempt. We will be disqualified if this point isn't adhered to.

2. Children under the age of 5 entering the world record MUST be held by their parent or legal guardian.

3. No bags or other personal belongings can be taken onto the site.

If we reach our target of 8,265+ participants, we estimate the challenge will take approximately 2 hours to complete. During that time you will be stewarded into the challenge area and counted. When in the challenge area, please stay within your marked zone. You can sit on the ground if you like. There will be one specific exit gate if you need to loo or for emergencies, but we kindly ask that you do your best to stay in the challenge area the entire time.

Marshalls will be on standby to provide water if needed.

Absolutely! :)

If we don’t reach the numbers needed, we will still come together to create the giant awareness ribbon and capture a powerful group photo to mark the moment. It will still be a very special and meaningful occasion, with press in attendance to document the experience - and perhaps we’ll return even stronger next year to try again.

In this scenario, the activity may take significantly less time.

We will also confirm on the day whether we have successfully achieved our back-up world record attempt.

Parents with young children will go in last along with this with accessible needs. You can take buggies and pushprams in the challenge while waiting, but once we're close to ready for the big shot, please place the buggy or pushpram in the buggy parking area which will be signposted. This ensures the area will be clear of clutter for the big world record photo.

Please note that children under 5 should be carried for safety reasons. Please keep children close to you for the photo and not wondering off (this will break up the cancer awareness image we're trying to create.

Absolutely!

Thosee with accessible needs and wheelchair users will go in last, along with this with parents with young children. There will be a waiting area while everyone else gets into position. World Record Staff will help guide you.

No. We must keep the challenge area clear of clutter and anything tha distracts from the main photo. Please ensure your personal belongings are stored away, for example in your vehicle. Please be ready to go into the challenge area at 3pm.

While we are aiming to break the world record for the largest human awareness ribbon, with a target of 8,265 participants, we appreciate we may not get the numbers we hope for.

Our founders, Mandeep Birdy and Emma Adams, have been working tirelessly to ensure every attendee is part of a powerful and historic moment, and as such, they have organised a back-up World Record attempt: The MOST signatures on an awareness ribbon in 8 hours! ✍️

What we need you to do:

Once you've check-in at the ticcket gates, please make your way promptly to the Giant Ribbon (located right after the ticket gates) and:

🎗️ Sign the giant ribbon
📸 Be photographed with your signature by official Guinness World Record witnesses
✍️ Sign the official logbook to secure your place in history.

This way, no matter what, you will participate in an successful official Guinness World Record!

Dogs are allowed on site with a leash but cannot enter the challenge area except medical service dogs (you will be positioned in a designated accessible zone).

Please ensure they are safely kept elsewhere during the world record attempt itself.

Come rain or shine, the World Record attempt will go ahead. We will only cancel if for safety reasons we need to postpone to another day.

Yes. There are two types of fundraising on the day:

1. There will be a charity raffle with a chance to win a signed Ipswich Town FC t-shirt. All funds will go into a community fundraising pot and funds will be divided equally between 5 chosen cancer charities: The Harley James Reynolds Fund

Cancer Support Suffolk

Aoibheann’s Pink Tie

Manchester Foundation Trust Charity

Swallows Head & Neck Cancer Support Group

2. Crowdfunding for the Hope to Connect app. The Hope to Connect app is a community platform for people affected by cancer, enabling:

Friendship and peer support

Shared experiences

Emotional connection

Companionship, and who knows, perhaps even to find love

Our mission is to ensure no one faces cancer alone.

We are in the process of raising a needed £80,000 to build the app. Profit of ticket sales will go to funding the event and any remaining funds will go to the development of the Hope to Connect app.

We will also have the Hope Car, purchased by co-founder, Mandeep, who is inviting donators to sign the car as a part of a lasting memory of the community coming together, to get behind something never before created for people with cancer.

Yes. There's free grass parking and enough accessible parking for 150 cars. These are not reserved spaces but given on a first-come-first-served basis.

The event is organised by Mandeep Birdy and Emma Adams, the co-founders of Hope to Connect, a community-driven initiative founded by two women personally affected by cancer.

Their mission is to combat loneliness and isolation among people with cancer through connection, community, and a dedicated support app.