Family hope text messaging record attempt will raise £100k in 24 hours (From York Press)

Family hope text messaging record attempt will raise £100k in 24 hours

8:08am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

PEOPLE across Britain – including thousands of fans at a Middlesbrough match tonight – are being urged to create a new world record by texting a donation to a York charity.

The parents of Guy Francis, a young Wheldrake man who died a decade ago after battling against bone cancer for six years, are hoping to raise at least £100,000 in 24 hours for the Guy Francis Bone Cancer Research Fund through text messages.

Ros and Mike Francis said the challenge has been accepted by Guinness World Records Ltd as a World Record Challenger in the category “the most money raised for charity through SMS texting in 24 hours.”

They believe that with some 66 million mobile phones in the United Kingdom, and about 250,000,000 SMS text messages sent every day, their target is feasible.

Mr Francis said that Middlesbrough, the team Guy supported, would be promoting the challenge in the programme for tonight’s Championship home match against Hull City, and also via the stadium’s PA system at half-time and on an electronic screen at the ground.

He said there was also strong support from the University of Teesside, where Guy was a student, which was asking thousands of students and staff members to support the fundraising.

The challenge starts at 2pm today and finishes at 2pm tomorrow.

• To make a donation, text BONE to 70444, which will lead to £3 automatically being deducted unless you indicate you wish to give more.