Would you like to be part of breaking the record for the largest snowball fight in the world? This rare opportunity will take place in Chili on Saturday, February 18. Saskatoon, Canada, holds the current world record for a snowball fight with 7,681 participants that was set on January 31, 2016.
The Pirate Toy Fund (PTF) is sponsoring this Guinness Book of World Records official attempt in Rochester.
PTF is a non-profit organization started in 1995 by a local family to honor the life of their daughter, Christie Simonetti, who died at eight years old from leukemia. During Christie’s terminal illness, the family experienced her precious smiles and joy when she would receive toys and stuffed animals to help her through her cancer battle. This inspired them to begin the local non-profit organization that provides toys to children in our community who are facing difficulties to lift their spirits and put a smile on their faces.
In the early years of the PTF, donated toys were distributed at local hospitals. Over 25 years, the organization has grown and now provides toys to 98 program partners, all of which are local. Program partners include local hospitals, police departments, the county jail, Salvation Army, and the Red Cross.
“We went from giving out 300 toys a year in 1995 to now more than 32,000 in 2022,” said Otto Harnischfeger, the Executive Director of the PTF.
Otto first began at PTF as a volunteer upon his retirement from the Rochester Police Department. He visited Golisano Children’s Hospital as Santa Claus and witnessed the miracle that came in smiles from chronically-ill children after receiving a toy donated through PTF.
Otto has since become the executive director and sought ideas to help unify the community for a good cause.
“As a thank you to the community for their support of the Pirate Toy Fund and as an opportunity to bring people together for a fun and exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we are sponsoring this free event,” said Otto. The fee to the Guinness Book of World Records to make this event an official challenge was paid by the PTF, making the event free to the community.
The day’s festivities will also include a snowman-building contest, live music, food trucks, and warming tents. This family-friendly event is being held at the Archer Road Field in Chili. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the Guinness Book of World Records event is at 11 a.m. Many locations will be providing parking and shuttle bus services.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better partner than the Town of Chili. They have been so great to work with,” said Otto.
Registration is required to participate in this attempt to have our community break the world’s record. To register, volunteer, or for more information, visit https://www.worldslargestsnowballfight.com.
