Nathan Young, Benny Evinson, Marcus Mollinga, and David Davies are four Lancashire friends who will try to break the Guinness World Record for the longest padel match ever played on November 21 and 22. As of right now, the record is 31 hours, 38 minutes, and 50 seconds. Their objective is to perform at Blackpool’s Zooki Padel Arena for 40 hours in a row.
It’s more than just a sporting task. Raising money for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT), a nonprofit that has helped Nathan and his family deal with retinoblastoma, a rare kind of eye cancer, is a very personal endeavor.
An individual’s tale of perseverance
When Nathan Young was younger, he was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, a disease that damages both eyes. His left eye had to be removed and replaced with a prosthesis, but after months of treatment at London’s St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, surgeons were able to maintain some vision in his right eye.
Nathan remarked, “So, my vision isn’t very good.” “I do, however, consider myself lucky, and try to always think it could have been much worse.”
Nathan has had a busy life in spite of the difficulties, propelled by his parents’ encouragement and his friends’ support. He said, “I like to think I’m a good example of somebody who will get stuck in and have a go at everything, even though I never quite made it as a professional football player or a top 10 padel player.”
A fresh generation, a new battle
Izzy, Nathan’s daughter, was born in 2019. Early examinations revealed that she too had retinoblastoma. Despite the fact that she is anticipated to lose eyesight in one eye as a result of multiple cycles of chemotherapy, physicians are optimistic that early detection and treatment will save her vision in the other eye.
Nathan remarked, “Even though she had a difficult beginning to life, it has been incredibly satisfying to see her embrace life and just go for it.” “She’s a tough kid.”
Prenatal tests has shown that his youngest daughter, Sophie, is free of the disease.
Using padel to give back
Nathan plans to use the impending record attempt as a means to give back to CHECT, whose assistance he called “absolutely immense” during the most trying times of his and Izzy’s treatment.
According to him, “it’s really hard to explain just how valuable the support from CHECT has been.” “What I do know is it is my time to give back and ensure that families who have their RB journeys to come are able to receive the same support that we were fortunate enough to have had.”
The rules and the road ahead
Strict Guinness World Record regulations will be followed during the contest. Only five-minute pauses are permitted throughout each hour of play, and the same four players must play nonstop in predetermined pairs. It is necessary to record and submit an official match score for validation.
The team plans to start early on Friday and conclude by 8 p.m. on Saturday. After the match, they will throw a fundraiser racing night to further promote CHECT’s goal.
Their endeavor combines perseverance, camaraderie, and mission—an uplifting call to action for awareness, study, and hope.