WARWICK Academy students will attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest basketball game ever played when the school stages its annual Random Acts of Kindness Day next Sunday, March 16.

The current record is 24 hours and was set by a team in Australia. But two teams from Warwick Academy will try to play a game for 26 hours starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Bermuda College Gym, finishing at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Proceeds from the Random Acts of Kindness Day will go to Big Brothers & Big Sisters.

Physical Education teacher at Warwick Academy Mark Thorne said: "We will have two teams of 12 players each. The most they can play at any one time will be three hours.

"After that the next five players come on. Also all the players cannot leave the premises for the entire time - they are allowed to bring sleeping bags and foam (mattresses) to sleep on. It is going to be exhausting to say the least."

And while Mr. Thorne said the players would not be allowed to be on court for more than periods of three hours, he added: "Actually, we will probably be playing in two-hour shifts. We have to follow all the regular rules - I can assure you it will not be a fact-paced game!

"It might be a bitter faster for the first hour because of the excitement but then they will realise you can't do that. This is a marathon."

Mr. Thorne has talked to his players about the pace of the game and how tiring it will be.

"The kids have to over 14 years old. We are being quite strict about everything. They have to get a doctor's note and they also have to get permission from their parents - we have to cover all the legalities."

The game will be played in eight-minute quarters. Mr. Thorne said: "We have so many people offering their time to help. We will need quite a few to keep score and officiate - I am hoping to get a number of PE teachers for that."

And in case extreme exhaustion sets in, there will be a rotation of doctors present at the gym.

"The Fairmont Southampton Princess will be feeding the players and there will be plenty of water and power drinks," said Mr. Thorne.

Steve Thomson, one of the organisers of the Random Acts of Kindness Day, said: "We will be having the game filmed by Panatel - there are many people who will be volunteering to help during the 26 hours. It is going to be a great time - a lot of fun."

The original idea of trying to set the world record actually came from Mr. Thomson's nine-year-old son, Kenny.

Mr. Thomson said: "Kenny was looking through the Guinness Book of Records and saw that the longest basketball game was 24 hours.

"He said to me, 'Hey dad, Warwick Academy could beat that'. And I thought that they probably could.

"I then began to think that the game could be incorporated into the Random Acts of Kindness Day.

"And then other people started to get on board. They all said it would be a good way to raise funds for Big Brothers & Big Sisters.

"It is great that the kids can raise money from the gym side of things - and then we have a walk and fun day at Warwick to raise funds.

"There are many little prongs that will be raising money for Big Brothers & Big Sisters."