12 Hours and Counting: Marist Campus Minister Keeps Swinging for World Record

CHICAGO, IL -- Like Cindy and Bobby Brady’s attempt to set the world teeter-totter record on The Brady Bunch, Marist High School campus minister Patrick Meyer is about 11 hours into setting the Guinness World Record by swinging on a playground swing for 36 hours.

The 2010 Marist alumni started at 7 a.m. Thursday, and, if his rear end and hips can handle it, he hopes to wrap up before the Marist-Benet Academy game at 7 p.m. Friday. Meyer is hoping to raise awareness-- and funds -- for the school’s service project next spring, when Marist’s junior class will participate in a National Day of Service honoring the Marist Brothers’ 200th anniversary.

Meyer is trying to break the current record set by a New Zealand woman in 2013, who swung on a playground swing for 32 hours, 2 minutes, 3 seconds.

>> Marist Campus Minister Hopes to Swing Way Into Guinness World Record Book

Proceeds raised from pledges and “Swing Squad” t-shirts will help pay for 100,000 meal packs that the junior class will be assembling on March 29, 2017, for Feed My Starving Children. The fundraising goal is $25,000.

According to Guinness rules, no physical contact with Meyer is allowed while he’s in the swing. His feet cannot touch the ground and no one can push him. Also, his feat must be validated by two witnesses, in Meyer’s case, Marist student activities director, Bridget Hopkins, and fellow campus minister, Kelly Sullivan.

So far, Meyer has been serenaded by the Marist High School Choir and cheered on by the cheerleaders. Throughout the day on Thursday, one of the teachers brought out her English class to perform scenes of a play for Meyer, and another class stopped by to pray the Rosary.

Students hopped on and off the empty guest swing beside Meyer to keep the campus minister company. Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) and comedian and 1994 Marist alumni, Pat McCann, also stopped by to take a turn on the guest swing.

Meyer is allowed a five minute break every hour to, er, um, use the facilities. The breaks can be rolled over. After six hours, Meyer took ten minutes to eat a light lunch -- a couple of bites off a wrap, some fruit snacks and pretzels.

“Nothing too serious,” Meyer said. “I get a little nauseous on the swing. During training I was getting motion sickness, but today I’m having a good day.”

Marist High School is also holding a Fall Fest in the Red & White Stadium from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, where Meyer’s perch is set up, at 4200 W. 115th St., Chicago. Admission is $2 and includes food and drink for purchase, music, apple bobbing and a pumpkin launch. The school will also be raffling off a signed Walter Payton jersey.

Marist High School campus minister Patrick Meyer | Patch video