Skip to Top NavigationSkip to ContentSkip to Footer
Ferris State University BulldogFerris State University Logo

Ferris Aims to Break a Record, Save Lives

Ferris Aims to Break a Record and Save a Life Ferris State University is hosting what it hopes is a record-breaking performance in the ongoing fight against cancer on Saturday, Oct. 1.

The university is part of a collaborative effort that will attempt to set a new world record by launching more than 2,500 pink plastic discs soaring through the air at one time at Top Taggart Field in a “Paint Big Rapids Pink” event. The record-breaking attempt begins at 5:30 p.m. in the stadium prior to the Bulldogs’ football game against Lake Erie College scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m.

Goals for the event include throwing as many as 2,500 plastic pink discs, drawing at least 3,000 in attendance for the Bulldog football game and raising at least $5,000 for the Susan P. Wheatlake Women’s Cancer and Wellness Fund. Brian Pacholka, lab manager in the National Elastomer Center at Ferris, noted that approximately 2,800 discs have been created on campus and more can be produced for an event being held in conjunction with Breast Health Awareness Month.

“The goal for this event is to create fun for the campus and the Big Rapids community for a good cause,” said Pacholka, who is familiar with producing the plastic discs for events on campus, such as orientation, for giveaways. “It’s also nice to receive recognition for the Plastic Engineering Technology program at Ferris because of the time the program has spent developing this project.”

The production of the pink flying discs is for a good cause – raising funds to fight cancer and to take a shot at a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The current disc-tossing world record of 1,903 is held by South Carolina’s Hilton Head Inn.

The pink plastic discs will be handed out before the game at the entrance gate of Top Taggart Field where volunteers with clipboards will be collecting the required signatures for documentation to break the world record. Donation buckets will be available for people to make contributions to the Susan P. Wheatlake Women’s Cancer and Wellness Fund.

Cancer survivors receive free admission to the game and should contact Tom Hogenson at (231) 592-4409 for tickets. Ticket costs for adults are $7 and $5 for seniors, adults ages 65 and up.  Students in grades K-12 are admitted for a ticket price of $5 and Ferris students are admitted free with a valid student identification card. A group rate of $4 per ticket is available for groups of 20 or more by calling (231) 591-2888.

Volunteers will collect the discs after the toss and distribute them after the game.

This effort is being sponsored by the Plastics Engineering Department, the Athletics Department and the Paint Big Rapids Pink Committee to break an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most flying discs aloft at one time.

For more information, contact the Ferris Athletics Department at (231) 591-2860.