Students Dressed As Spidey Set New World Record

Throughout history, human beings have been determined to do something no one has ever done. Run the fastest mile on foot. Be the first to go to the Moon. Grow the world’s longest fingernails.  And on October 3, 2014, something else happened which was never done before–nearly 400 people gathered together in one place to dress-up as your friendly-neighborhood Spider-Man. Either that or it’s another cloning plot by the Jackal.

As reported by UPI:

A British costume company said it gathered 398 people dressed in Spider-Man costumes to set a Guinness World Record.

The company, Escapade, said 398 people donned official Marvel Comics licensed Spidey suits Oct. 2 at the University of London’s Student Central to set a Guinness World Record and raise money for charity.

Each participant made a donation to veterans charity Help for Heroes in exchange for their costumes, Escapade said.

While the actual amount raised by the event is not yet available, organizers for the event believe “participants donated several hundred pounds to the charity.” And what did the students get for their participation? As reported by The Escapist:

Escapade worked with Student Central, a membership that offers activities and sports for London students for the event, for the week-long Fresher’s Fayre, a series of events to welcome students. Students participating received a Spiderman costume for free…

…Beyond the successful world record attempt, the event included a gravity-defying corde lisse aerial show, crowd participation competitions, and a flashmob dance routine.

“Starting university is a big time for students but events like tonight’s is what makes the whole thing so special,” Steve Harwood, Student Central’s staff administrator and performance manager, said in a prepared statement. “It was a great turnout, and our members really loved the chance to put themselves in the history books.”

This is not the first time Escapade has organized such an event. Last year, the costume company made the world record for “The Largest Gathering of People Dressed As Superman,” which totaled 867. Even higher, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is “The Largest Gathering of People Dressed As Star Trek Characters,” which comes to a total of 1,063 participants, set in October 20, 2012 by Media 10 Ltd (UK) at ExCel London.

One of students who participated, Erik Pazos, was quoted as saying:

I knew of this a long time ago, I even put it in my calendar.  Ever since my Mother got me my first Guinness Book of World Records in the year 2000, I’ve always wanted to help make a Guinness World Record and I was just so excited that we were been given a chance to do this.”

Sources: UPI, The Escapist, Screen Invasion, Escapade, and World Record Academy.