Netball

After completing 250 marathons in one year fundraising for Right to Play, Cochrane’s “Marathon Man” Martin Parnell allowed himself a short period of rest before tackling his next challenge: The Guinness Book of World Records.

Along with Netball Alberta, Parnell and 23 others will make a netball world record attempt Sept. 16-19 dubbed Netball Quest 61.

The 24 participants will remain on location at the South Fish Creek Recreation Complex in southeast Calgary with two teams of seven continually playing netball for 61 hours to best the record of 60 hours set in the United Kingdom in 2010.

“They can’t go home for a shower, they can’t go for a coffee at Tim Hortons. It’s a little village for 61 hours,” Parnell said of the attempt.

Martin Parnell is hoping he can help with a netball world record attempt Sept. 16-19. Photo submitted

Parnell said for his latest undertaking he wanted to focus on kids, having run with 12,000 children in 60 schools during his marathon quest.

“I started thinking about the idea of what I’m calling Quest For Kids.”

Quest for Kids promotes sports kids can play both at home and in the community.

Parnell was invited to play an exhibition netball game earlier this year.

Earle Connor, a Simply For Life food coach in Cochrane, makes a pass to Martin Parnell at a netball exhibition game April 18. Parnell and 23 others will try to break a world record for longest continuous netball game Sept. 16-19. Photo submitted

Netball is similar to basketball but without dribbling and is predominantly played by women in Commonwealth countries. Parnell had never tried the game before the exhibition but said his wife Sue and three sisters in England have all played.

“(Netball’s) fast, a good workout, you can do it in a gym,” Parnell explained.

“(I thought) why don’t I look at that being my first (Quest For Kids) sport?”

Parnell is also continuing to raise funds for Right To Play and is hoping to raise $25,000 for the charity with the netball challenge.

For more information or to donate visit netballalberta.com.

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