Philips South Africa has set a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest GPS drawing by an individual on a bicycle in the shape of a digital heart. The record attempt was undertaken and achieved to commemorate World Health Day (7th April 2019), and was the finale for the month-long Back to Rhythmcampaign that was hosted by Philips South Africa in collaboration with the Philips Foundation and the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, (HSFSA).
Kevin Benkenstein, took on Philips’ “Back to Rhythm” challenge to cycle 510 kms from Bloemfontein to Kimberley, to Boshof, to Hertzogville, to Bultfontein and back to Bloemfontein, digitally tracking his route to create the world’s largest GPS drawing in the shape of a heart.
Kevin and fellow cyclists, Dion Guy and Pieter Seyffertt also cycled across South Africa from Cape Town’s Klein Constantia Estate to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg covering 2,200 kms in under 5-days and replicating the pattern of an ECG heartbeat across the varied terrain. They were accompanied by Philips staff on sections of the ride.
Both these landmark achievements formed part of a much larger Back to Rhythm campaign, aimed at creating public awareness and education around cardiac health, as well as passing on vital information on training (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation), BLS (Basic Life Support) and AED resuscitation, and how to prepare healthier food to ensure better heart health and overall wellbeing. The campaign was then amplified through simple, yet impactful solutions.
“When Philips approached me to take on the challenge to attempt a Guinness World Record to raise awareness on heart health, it really hit home as I lost my father to a cardiovascular disease. I am proud to have represented such a powerful campaign and hope that South Africans continue to see the importance of healthy living even beyond this campaign and World Health Day,” says Kevin Benkenstein, one of the team members who set the record.
