After pole dancing for 30 hours straight, a group of college students had burns and blisters all over their hands -- but they also had broken a Guinness World Record and their own personal fundraising goals.
About 50 women (and one guy) from Newcastle University set out on Nov. 4 to top the Guinness World Record for “Longest Pole Dancing Marathon,” which was previously 24 hours, the Chronicle News reports. The dance crew succeeded in hitting the pole for 30 hours and raising the fundraising bar, bringing £1,000 for two noteworthy charities.
The sweaty students' efforts will aid Infant Trust, an organization that helps children abused in Africa, and Raising and Giving, a student-run organization that helps six charities, according to the group’s fundraising site.
Melissa Whipp, president of the university’s pole dancing society, told the Chronicle News that the event was “amazing.”
“Everybody’s been really generous,” she said.
The dancers, who started at 2 p.m. and concluded their quest at 8 p.m. the following day, made sure two poles were in use at all times, according to the Tab Newcastle.
In addition to breaking records, the students hope to encourage people to see gyrating on a pole as less of a sleazy act and more of a challenging workout routine.
“Pole Dancing is becoming more and more recognised as a form of art, gymnastics and fitness,” the organizers wrote on their fundraising page. “It is a brilliant way to exercise, meet new people and have fun.”
Click through the slideshow below to see more photos of the Newcastle University's Pole Dance Society:
Students Break Pole Dancing Guinness Record
Photos from Newcastle Uni Pole Dance Society/Facebook.