A 2ND WORLD RECORD ACHIEVED!

October 9, 2011– As the sun started to rise at Theodore Roosevelt Park in Oyster Bay, New York, Craig Pinto and all of the volunteers for his second Guinness World Record attempt realized the reality of the situation. Once there was enough light, the event had to start immediately, especially if they were to achieve what they were there to do, to set the Guinness World Record for “Most Football Field Goals Made in 24 Hours”. With a specific packet of guidelines set by Guinness Records, Pinto had 24 hours to minimally make 1,000 forty yard field goals. Every kick had to be taken from forty yards out, with an equal amount taken from both hash marks, as well as the middle of the field. Last October 10th, 2010, Pinto set the Guinness World Record for “Most Football Field Goals Made in 12 Hours” by making 717 forty yard field goals in his initial charity event, which raised money for the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.

This year the goal was to raise awareness and funds for the Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation’s newly formed Scholarship Program. The Scholarship Program, which is the first of its kind, will be awarded for the first time to deserving students of the graduating High School class of 2012. The intent of the Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to students that are living with Celiac Disease and will be attending a Four-Year University. With the growing costs of gluten-free foods, the Scholarship aims to subsidize the costs of these foods for students to allow them to grow as a student within their University of choice, without worrying how to afford food or where they will be able to eat.

At one point during the day of the event, the goal of making 1,000 field goals seemed unattainable for Pinto. “I really thought I was injured”, the former Hofstra University and Pro Indoor Football place kicker said. “I felt like I had something wrong with my knee, we stopped the event for a few minutes to be seen on the field by physical therapist Evan Bronchick of Central Island Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and we thought we were going to have to stop the event around 700 kicks.” He continued to kick through the heat and the pain, dealing with numerous bouts of nausea due to both, and chipped away towards his goal. Eventually, as the sun went down, Craig and the remaining crowd saw the 1,000th football sail through the uprights, setting another Guinness World Record.

Why put yourself through this kind of physical and mental strain? “I want to challenge the stigma that being diagnosed with Celiac Disease changes one’s physical capabilities. That does not have to be the case, ever,” Pinto said.