RAF Lossiemouth Owls smash the record for the world's longest game of touch rugby and raised almost £9000 for Abbie's Sparkle Foundation - but it's not an official Guinness World Record
A MORAY rugby team has raised almost £9000 for charity by playing the longest match of touch rugby in the world.
The incredible 34-hour effort of the RAF Lossiemouth Owls team won't be recognised in the Guinness book of world records, but achieved its goal of making a huge sum for the Abbie's Sparkle Foundation charity.
The challenge was set up as a tribute to Lossie serviceman Gary Banford, a major fundraiser for the Elgin-based cause who died last month after a battle with oesophageal cancer.
The RAF warrant officer, from Forres, who served rugby teams at Lossie, Kinloss and Banff, gained over £25,000 in pledges for Abbie's Sparkle Foundation.
Air base colleague Tommy Williams and fellow service men and women came up with the idea of a world record attempt to raise even more money for the charity.
He was part of a hardy band of club players and helpers who broke the previous world record by playing touch rugby for 34 hours over the course of last weekend.
Mr Williams said: "We successfully completed the 34 hours. It is however an unofficial world record as we had a last minute issue with referee qualifications, so we can't submit it to Guinness world records.
"However the 28 players still played for 34 hours and unofficially broke it."
"We have so far raised £8800 for the Abbie's Sparkle Foundation and are hungry to get to £9000."
The charity was inspired Elgin teenager Abbie Main's courage through her treatment for a childhood cancer before she passed away on Christmas Day, 2017.
Run by Abbie's family, the Foundation donates gifts and grants known as Sparkles to families of children undergoing cancer treatment across Britain.
And Mr Williams was thrilled to hear from the charity how far the money raised will go this year.
"We've been informed we've raised enough money to give Christmas 'sparkles' to every child receiving cancer treatment in the Highlands, Aberdeen and Morayshire, which really puts it into perspective and makes this all worthwhile," he said.
The RAF Lossie rugby team have made Abbie's Sparkle Foundation their official charity in honour of Mr Banford.
"During his treatment he was phenomenal, he raised so much money for the Abbie's Sparkle Foundation by performing fitness challenges.
"From that point on, the club decided to make the foundation our club charity.
"We wanted to try and replicate Gary's efforts for the charity.
"The foundation itself is excellent and punches way above its weight, its sphere of influence is huge, considering it's a local charity.
"Abbie's Sparkle support children affected by cancer throughout the UK and their work is quite simply life changing for many."
