Once again, the Mercyhurst community has found a very original way in which to raise funds for charity.

This time, the Mercyless Endurowthon, an event organized by the Student Activities Council (SAC) in partnership with the Mercyhurst University Rowing team, will raise funds for the John C. Kanzius cancer research foundation and Project Kenya.

How are they going to achieve this? By attempting to break two Guiness world records in twenty-four hours.

The event aims to embrace the school’s spirit by highlighting the team’s dedication. On top of these fundraising efforts, the rowing team is also raising funds to compete in both the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship in California and the Henley Royal Regatta in England, where they will face off against teams from Oxford and Cambridge, two of the best collegiate rowing programs in the world.

The central programming area for this event is the last two hours of the 24-hour event, which will be filled with live entertainment, food, giveaways and raffles.

Adam Borgman, chair of SAC, thinks this format will be very similar to many of the events SAC hosts throughout the year, all in one night.

The team is attempting to break two world records. First, the men’s rowing team is competing to break the Lightweight Men’s small Team 24-Hour Distance record. They are also endeavoring students to break the record for the most people on a single erg in 24 hours, which is currently held by the Government of Poland.

To verify these records, the school is counting on the presence of Guiness and other ruling bodies in the rowing community to assist the event and authenticate the achievement.

Following the event, there will be a party at the Corner Stone Bar & Grill which will feature specialty shots and a variety of specials, available to students who sport the t-shirts sold for the event, which were designed by Mercyhurst student John J. Thiede.

Students are encouraged to sign up for the event, in order to make breaking the erg record possible.