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Make-A-Wish(R) Canada Achieves Guinness World Records(R) Title for Largest Human Star!

Yesterday, on Guinness World Records Day, 326+ individuals joined Make-A-Wish® Canada and wish child, Rachel, to kick off the holiday season by capturing the Guinness World Records® title for largest human star!

The magical event took place in partnership with Shops at Don Mills and Don Mills Collegiate Institute, and brought together local residents, businesses, volunteers and students to form a sparkling human star, just as the sun set.

Make-A-Wish and wish child Rachel worked together on the Guinness World Records application and star formation event, which required at least 250 people, wearing the same colour, to be inside the white star outline for a minimum of 10 minutes. "It was really exciting to co-host this world record event with so many community members," said wish child Rachel. "It was also a special opportunity for me to talk about the joy that I felt when my wish for a beautiful butterfly garden was granted in 2008."

An official Guinness World Records adjudicator was on site for the event to evaluate the process, counting methods and to declare the Guinness World Records attempt for largest human star a success. "Guinness World Records recognizes over 2,200 records a year," said Freddie Hoff, Adjudicator, Guinness World Records. "We welcomed the opportunity to join the largest human star attempt with Make-A-Wish and the community on Guinness World Records Day, and we congratulate them on their accomplishment."

Make-A-Wish and wish child Rachel worked together on the Guinness World Records application and star formation event, which required at least 250 people, wearing the same colour, to be inside the white star outline for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Make-A-Wish Canada also used the Guinness World Records event to speak about their Season of Wishes® holiday campaign and their organization, which grants close to 500 magical wishes across the country a year. "Not only was this an opportunity to achieve a world record; it was a chance to reiterate that the work we do helps to bring hope, strength and joy to children with life threatening medical conditions," said Jennifer Ritter, CEO, Make-A-Wish.

Make-A-Wish would like to give special thanks to Shops at Don Mills, Don Mills Collegiate Institute, Canadian musical artist, Drake Jensen, Colette Orfeo Photography, production company Thread Branded, Adrian Bello, Starbucks, Bier Market, Panera Breads, Kernels Popcorn, and West 49 for their in-kind contributions to this event. To learn more about our 2011 Season of Wishes® holiday campaign, visit: www.makeawish.ca/seasonofwishes.

To read the Guinness World Records' guidelines for the largest human star visit Largest human star.

For more photos of the Guinness World Records event visit the Make-A-Wish Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/MakeAWishCA.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Canada

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada is a dynamic wish-granting organization that brings hope, strength and joy to children across Canada living with life-threatening medical conditions. Along with the national office, seven independent regional chapters grant magical wishes to children in need from coast-to-coast. Make-A-Wish® Canada is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish® International, the largest wish-granting organization in the world, making dreams and wishes come true for more than 270,000 children since 1980. To learn more please visit www.makeawish.ca.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20111117-maw800.jpg