A new collection point was launched at Hastings Co-op Port IGA on March 29 for the Port Macquarie West Rotary fundraiser and Guinness World Record sock challenge.

The Rotary Club of Port Macquarie West, in conjunction with the Rotary Clubs of District 9650, have launched a fundraising campaign to break the existing world record title for the longest washing line of socks.

Funds raised will be distributed to Endeavour Club House, YP Space, Soldier On and the Hastings Education Fund. The world record attempt is planned for June 4-5.

The fundraiser was launched at Sovereign Place town centre on March 3 with mayor Peta Pinson officially drawing open a curtain of socks to mark the start of the three month campaign of sock collecting.

Lewis Land Group started the tally with a $15,000 donation and a promise to double it if the world record attempt reached its $100,000 fundraising goal.

To celebrate Rotary's centenary in Australia in April 2021, Rotary clubs in District 9650 will build a 10,000 metre long washing line on the field opposite Sovereign Place town centre with the aim of pegging 100,000 socks to claim the title.

The current Guinness World Record was set on the 17 May 2014, outside the small village of Halverde, Germany, where a 6,066 metre long washing line had 69,152 socks pegged to it.

Local businesses, sporting clubs, registered clubs, schools and the general public are now invited to donate as many socks as they can to the campaign.

Where to donate

You can donate socks to the collections bins placed at numerous businesses across the Hastings including Hasting Co-op's IGA at Sovereign Hills, Wauchope and Port Macquarie; JR Richards' office in the industrial estate; Coles in Hayward Street and Lake Innes.

Additional collection points are planned including one at Lake Cathie.

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