Bang the Drum 2016
- Darren Ralphs
- Marketing Assistant
Russell Finex helps world record-breaking charity event supporting street children worldwide
On Monday 3rd October 2016, Bang the Drum 2016 set the new Guinness World Record for the world’s largest drumming lesson at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic park. Russell Finex was delighted to be part of the global event, raising funds and awareness for Street Child United.
Bang the Drum 2016 brought together children from 25 schools across London, along with their teachers and various charity partners, in a world record attempt. In total, 1,827 people beat the previous record of 1,651 set in Brisbane, Australia, to secure 
a new Guinness World Record. The attempt, held at the CopperBox Arena, included performances from the Royal College of Music, Young Drummer of the Year Tom Potter, beatboxers Tyte & Mr Phormula, and Inspire-works.
The main event brought together all participants, who were taught how to play various sized drums and rythms. 1,827 drums combined to create a chorus of Samba, which had been devised by 35 former street children for the Olympic Games in Rio. The Guinness World Records then confirmed that the record was indeed officially broken, to rapturous celebration from the schoolchildren.
Music facilitators Inspire-works have been working in partnership with Street Child United, raising awareness and funds for street children around the world, and Bang the Drum 2016 follows 2014’s ‘Road to Rio Samba’, when 1,675 London schoolchildren broke another Guinness World Record, for the Largest Samba band, at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Street Child United uses the power of sport and the arts to challenge negative perceptions and treatment of street children around the world. The charity is the organizer of the Street Child Games and Street Child World Cup, having held events in South Africa in 2010, Brazil in 2014 and 2016, and building towards Russia in 2018. A key focus for the charity currently is to ensure birth registration for street children around the world, and their efforts have already seen huge changes take place in countries such as India and Pakistan. Bang the Drum 2016 was indeed streamed around the world to 10,000 viewers, including street children in Chennai, India.
Industrial sieve manufacturer Russell Finex is proud to support Bang the Drum 2016. With subsidiaries in India, China, Belgium, USA and the UK, the company is committed to supporting a range of local and international causes through various fundraising efforts. To find out more about the organisations involved in Bang the Drum 2016, click one of the icons below.
