World record attempt at Trinity Park in Suffolk today!

Organisers say Ipswich event will create a lasting legacy while bringing people together through shared experiences of cancer

A Suffolk-based charity is inviting the public to take part in a world record attempt aimed at raising cancer awareness and tackling isolation.

Hope to Connect, co-founded by Mandeep Birdy and Emma Adams, is planning to create the largest cancer awareness ribbon in the world at Trinity Park in Ipswich this weekend.

The attempt will form part of a wider community event running from 11am to 7pm, with the official record attempt scheduled for 3pm.

Inspired by personal experience

The charity’s work is rooted in the personal experiences of its founders, including Emma Adams, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 at the age of 43.

After a period of remission, she spent time focusing on making memories with her teenage daughter, but in 2025 she was diagnosed with secondary cancer and told she had limited time to live.

Adams has spoken about the isolation that can come with a cancer diagnosis, particularly for those navigating it alone.

She said: “As someone who is single and living with cancer, I’ve personally experienced a deep sense of isolation.”

She added: “I've been ghosted and stood up after being honest about my diagnosis. It's the most demoralising feeling that no one should have to go through.”

Adams said her hope is that Hope to Connect will provide lasting support for others in similar situations.

“It's my dream to see this platform launched before I pass, to leave a legacy for my daughter, and to help others like me for years to come.”

Co-founder Mandeep Birdy said her own experiences of supporting loved ones with cancer had also shaped the charity’s mission.

She said: “Watching someone you love feel horribly isolated is one of the most painful things to see.”

She added the aim is to create a space where people affected by cancer can connect and support one another.

“Hope to Connect will be a go-to place for people with cancer, or who have survived it, to find each other, to bond, to share their experience, and to feel companionship during their journey.”

Driven by connection and lived experience

The event has been developed as part of the charity’s wider aim to bring people affected by cancer together, offering support, shared understanding and a sense of community.

Organisers say the scale of the world record attempt reflects the importance of creating something visible and unifying for those impacted by cancer.

Mandeep Birdy said: “Emma and I have worked for the last six months to really make this event very special, really significant. It is a legacy event.”

She said the ambition behind the attempt was intentional.

“It’s never been done before in the UK, there’s a reason it’s never been done before, because it’s really hard to do.”

A space to remember and celebrate

At its core, the event is designed to give people a meaningful way to reflect on loved ones affected by cancer.

Birdy said that taking part in the record attempt could be a unique and lasting experience.

“I’ve never had an opportunity before to be able to walk away with a certificate from the Guinness World Record… to have that possibility to say you’ve participated in something is really, really special.”

A full day of community activity

Alongside the record attempt, the event will include a range of activities aimed at creating a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.

Birdy said: “It would make a nice day trip… there’s a lot of family fun.”

The day will feature a funfair, Easter egg hunt, craft stalls and a variety of food and drink options.

She added: “Even if you’re not close to Trinity Park in Ipswich… there are lovely hotels close by.”

What participants need to know

Those taking part in the record attempt will need to follow strict guidelines to ensure it can be officially verified.

Birdy said: “Everybody who attends our world record, they must have their torso and their head covered in the same bright colour.”

She explained: “That’s because we’re going to have a drone photo…and it dosent want to see the colour of our hair.”

“It needs to see the colour of whatever it is that we’re wearing, and it must be bright enough that it stands out from the colour of the grass.”