Students Set Record
While Supporting
Cancer Research

Freshmen John-Clark Levin and George Posner did what they set out to do on Sunday, May 3: They broke a World Record for the world's longest handshake, while also raising money for cancer research.
Although it's not official until the paperwork is compiled, notarized, and sent to England for verification by Guinness World Records, the students surpassed the previous time set for that event.
"All in all, I think we maintained great energy throughout the day," says Levin. "There were a few moments where our amplitude dropped, due to destructive interference, but upon reviewing the tape of the event, the effect is not even noticeable on film."
At 10:14 a.m. exactly, the two CMC friends "put ?er there" and shook hands with each other continuously for the next 10 hours, 10 minutes and 10 seconds. At 8:14 p.m., they broke the standing world record, set last year in Hawaii by two naval intelligence officers, also for charity.
Just over 10 minutes later, Levin and Posner finally ended the shake at a time of 10:10:10, which they felt to be a "pleasingly round number.
"I think George and I would agree that breaking the record was indeed easier than we had first imagined," Levin says. The only concerning moments, he says, came when their hands became a little clammyso a nearby spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol was used to cool and dry them.
Posner says that growing up, he marveled at Guinness World Record stories, but never imagined being the center of one. "I always wondered how people managed to accomplish those feats. Now I know," Posner says, "It's just training and willpower."
Much of the day's efforts went into meeting the exacting evidence specifications of Guinness World Records, Levin says. If all goes well, the record will be officially recognized as the Guinness World Record later this month, he says.
The event was an effort to raise both awareness and money for New York's Cancer Research Institute, an innovative foundation in developing new methods of fighting cancers. Although contributions are still being counted, and pledges collected, "we're hoping the final tally will exceed $1,000," Levin says.
Posner says his cousin had leukemia but, thankfully, was cured. And in January, a former AP literature classmate from high school died of leukemia. "His death was hard on all of us. So my parents were very happy about my record, but also very happy that we found a way to use it to raise money to fight cancer."
The Cancer Research Institute focuses on immunological treatments. Rather than fighting cancer with a therapy that weakens not only the cancer but a person's vital immune system, CRI focuses on therapies that strengthen the immune system and enable it to destroy once-fatal cancers without the toxicity and side-effects of chemo.
"We felt that the work of CRI is too vital to go unsupported," Levin says.
Those interested in making a pledge may contact him at: jlevin12@cmc.edu, or log onto www.cancerresearch.org to donate directly.
And how did the two celebrate their May 3 victory? "We were pretty worn out after the conclusion of the eventset-up had started more than 13 hours prior," Levin says. "So we spent the remainder of the evening with some friends at Pomona College and ate pizza to restore our energy."
"Everybody on campus was pretty excited," Posner adds. "A lot of people came up to me to ask about the record, before and after we did it. There was even enough student interest to get ASCMC to help sponsor us."