KRL sets its sights on new Guinness World Record

Freight transport company KRL Ltd, based in Telford, is hoping to bring together more than 8,000 people to help set a new Guinness World Record by creating the world's largest Hokey Cokey dance, holding hands around the famous Wrekin hill.

Organised by the group Hands Around The Wrekin (HATW), the event, which will be held on 21st September, will raise funds for four local charities: the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, the Midlands Air Ambulance, Save the Clifton, and Stay. The event will pay homage a similar event, held over 30 years ago on May 4th 1981, which brought together 17,000 local people to create a world-record-breaking chain of raised hands stretching over 3.5 miles.

KRL, part of the Palletways network, was originally approached to loan its trucks for stages at the event, but has since become part of the organisation team, collaborating with HATW.

Becky O'Toole, Transport Accounts Administrator at KRL, explains: "Our Operations Director Pete Phythian was approached by HATW, and he realised immediately that we should get involved and support the event, which is when I was brought in to help. Once we'd promised to loan our vehicles for the day, and offered to help transport anything that was needed, we started to look at what we could do next. Subsequently we have committed to providing barcode scanners for barcoded wristbands to help verify attendance numbers for the World Record attempt, as well as connecting with our customers to secure raffle prizes and other donations to help raise funds."

So far, customers including Weston Park, Tesco, Telford Wines, David Austin Roses, Southwater Event Group, T-Live and Back To Basics have donated prizes. In addition, another KRL customer is considering producing all the barcoded wristbands for free, helping to keep the charity's costs down while undertaking the necessary requirements of the Guinness Book of World Records. The activity is also being given support by Telford & Wrekin Council who are working to bring the community together through the event.

Becky continues: "We're so proud to be involved with this, and want to thank all our customers for their support. While we obviously hope the world record attempt will be successful, the whole event is achieving so much more than this. It's bringing people of all ages and abilities together, forming a community with one vision, and giving people something to work for together. That's just as important as being named record-breakers."

KRL Ltd is one of over 100 members in the Palletways UK network. The Palletways Group is made up of over 300 depots and 13 hub operations, through which it provides collection and distribution services across 12 European countries, including the UK.

Palletways' distribution network comprises independent transport companies who share each other's resources to deliver small consignments of palletised freight to market faster and more cost effectively than ever before.