Media Advisory - UNICEF Canada to break Guinness World Record at Canada/England exhibition game ahead of the largest women's sporting event ever

UNICEF Canada

Hamilton game will kick off #HighFiveIt Campaign to celebrate women's soccer & save children's lives

HAMILTON, ON, May 26, 2015 /CNW/ - On Friday, May 29, UNICEF Canada will lead thousands of fans at Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field in breaking the Guinness World Record for the greatest number of people simultaneously giving a high-five. The record breaking challenge will take place during the half-time break of the pre-world cup friendly match between the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team and their English rivals.

UNICEF Canada has teamed up with Canada Soccer to engage fans in the life-saving #HighFiveIt Campaign during the month of June as the Canadian Women's National Team competes in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™, which will be hosted in six Canadian cities. It is the world's largest women's sporting event ever.

Who: Thousands of fans at Tim Hortons Field, spokespeople available on site

What: Guinness World Record breaking attempt for the greatest number of people simultaneously giving a high-five. The current Guinness World Record is 4,699 people.

Where: Tim Hortons Field, 64 Melrose Avenue North, Hamilton, Ont. L8L 8C1

When: Friday, May 29 at approximately 7:50 p.m. during the half-time break of the international friendly match between the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team and the English Women's Football Team

About #HighFiveIt:

#HighFiveIt is a campaign engaging Canadians across the country to join a global movement to help stop preventable child deaths. UNICEF is encouraging people around the world to join the #HighFiveIt movement to help save kids lives by making a $5 donation to UNICEF, capturing a fun high-five photo or video, posting it on social media and tagging five friends.

• A $5 donation can provide clean drinking water to five children for one year.
• A $5 donation can immunize 14 children against measles.
• A $5 donation can give essential nutrients to three children for one day.

The #HighFiveIt Campaign was designed pro bono by Marketel.

Quotes:

"Every child must survive childhood so they can grow up, be inspired and reach for their dreams. Mine was to win an Olympic Medal and compete in the Women's World Cup. I want all children to have the chance to realize their dreams and believe in themselves," said Karina LeBlanc, goalkeeper for the Canadian Women's National Team and UNICEF Canada Ambassador. "I encourage Canadians to high-five every time their favourite team scores or a goalkeeper makes a great save and donate $5 so UNICEF can reach the world's most vulnerable children to help them survive and thrive."

"We believe that if the largest women's sporting event in history is coming to Canada, the world should win. Every day, 17,000 children under-five die of mostly preventable causes. We can stop this," said Sharon Avery, UNICEF Canada's Chief Development Officer. "Picture an entire stadium full of children dying every day. A five dollar #HighFiveIt donation can provide clean water, nutrition and vaccines—leaving a legacy of lives saved during these games."

Maternal, newborn and child health statistics:

• 50 per cent of childhood deaths under age five are caused by malnutrition.
• More than 1,000 children die every day from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation.
• 330 children die from measles every day, despite the availability of a safe, effective and affordable vaccine.
• Every year one million children take their first and last breath on the day they are born.

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

Image with caption: "Karina LeBlanc, Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team goalkeeper and UNICEF Canada Ambassador, gives a high-five to a four-year-old boy in Dominica following a soccer clinic for kids in the island nation where she grew up. Karina was in Dominica this spring visiting UNICEF projects, running soccer clinics and encouraging children to dream big. (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150526_C6653_PHOTO_EN_16999.jpg

For media accreditation, to arrange interviews or for more information please contact:Tiffany Baggetta, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8892, 647-308-4806 (mobile), [email protected]