ADRA Sets New Guinness World Record with Giant Bed in Chile
26 February 2024 |
According to a recent article in the Adventist Review, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Chile has successfully set a new Guinness world record by assembling the world’s largest bed in the world, on February 10 in the city of Chillán. The bed measures 32.7 by 19.5 meters (approximately 107 by 64 feet), surpassing the previous record set in 2011 in the Netherlands. Weighing almost 14 tons, the construction involved the collaborative efforts of ADRA volunteers, including 6,000 Pathfinders from the Chilean Union Pathfinder Camporee, and contributions from private companies.
The project took place on the campus of Chile Adventist University and aimed to highlight the needs of children and adolescents who lack proper bedding. According to the organizers, the materials used for the bed’s construction will be repurposed. Wooden planks are to be used for home repairs, while the mattresses, borrowed from the Pathfinders’ campsite, will return to their original use. Additionally, bedspreads created for the event are set to be distributed to children and adolescents in need, as part of a comprehensive bed package that includes sheets, a new foam mattress, and a pillow.
The construction of the bed required 148 scaffold structures, 380 metal planks, 4,825 screws, 1,622 drill screws, and involved 680 expert work hours. A total of 56 volunteers assembled the bed, which featured a six-meter headboard, a 2.5-meter base, and an 18-meter pillow. The project also used 171 liters of paint, 184 duvets, 250 meters of sheets, and 180 mattresses.
The initiative is part of ADRA’s “Un Niño, Una Cama” (One Child, One Bed) campaign, which aims to provide new beds to children and adolescents facing challenges such as natural disasters, violence, poverty, abuse, or neglect.
Diego Trincado, director of ADRA Chile, highlighted the collaborative nature of the project, stating, “The challenge was immense to achieve this new record. More importantly, we are motivated by the opportunity to benefit children and adolescents in our country.”