Students get toothbrushes ready to shatter world record

400 Chilton students get toothbrushes ready to shatter world record

Four-hundred students are going to brush each other’s teeth in a world record attempt. Laura Houston, a Year 13 student from Chilton Saint James School in Lower Hutt, is hoping their ridiculous endeavor will raise awareness for the Live More Awesome foundation which encourages open discussion of depression.

She believes the ‘World’s largest toothbrush circle’ involving 400 Chilton school students each brushing the teeth of the student next to them will have to be seen to be believed – it will make heads turn, literally.

Laura through involvement with the Fuji Xerox Next Generation Leaders Programme was inspired by Jimi Hunt, one of the motivational speakers, who has spent most of his life doing ridiculous things to raise awareness – from building the World's Biggest Waterslide to playing golf through downtown Auckland, all while battling depression.

Jimi founded the Live More Awesome Foundation to facilitate world-wide discussion of depression through ridiculous, fun and newsworthy events.

Laura’s plan was for Jimi to come and visit the school and speak to her peers at Chilton Saint James, a girls’ private day school, about depression. One thing people may not know about depression is that woman have higher rates than men – one in five women will have depression in their lifetime.

She was motivated to go a step further when Fuji Xerox challenged students to make a positive change in their own schools. Laura thought long and hard about a crazy challenge she could bring to Chilton – deciding on the ‘world’s largest toothbrush circle’.

“This challenge seemed the way to go as it could involve a large group, without being too impossible to coordinate and the benefit of having the girls help each other out by brushing their teeth!”

The current world record is held by an American camp with a total of 126 in their toothbrush circle. To confirm the world record Laura needs to film and record the attempt and have it officially qualified.

Silverstream Dental is donating 400 toothbrushes and toothpaste to aid Laura and her peers in their attempt. Laura is also selling glow in the dark wristbands printed with her own motto that ‘no one should be left in the dark’ – with proceeds going to the Live More Awesome foundation.

The world record attempt will take place on Thursday 28 August at 12.30pm on Chilton Saint James School’s Greenwood lawn. Jimi will address Year 9 to Year 13 students with a motivational talk and his experience in dealing with depression prior to Laura’s attempt. Jimi will then partake in the attempt, as will Jamie Clarke from Fuji Xerox.

For more information about the Live More Awesome foundation and to donate go to www.livemoreawesome.com/help

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