How you can break Guinness World Record at Wicksteed Park - and raise cash for mental health charity

Watch out Joe Wicks - your Guinness World Record might be snatched from you at Wicksteed Park later this year.

The popular fitness coach currently holds the title of the largest high-intensity interval training (HIIT) class, after 3,804 turned out to burn some calories on July 5, 2017, in Hyde Park.

But it's hoped the record will be broken in Kettering on Sunday, September 12, when Workout at Wicky's comes to the much-loved park off Barton Road, raising vital cash for Wellingborough-based mental health charity We Mind & Kelly Matters in the process.

Organiser Miranda Menzies, who has been teaching fitness classes in Kettering and the surrounding area since 1995, said: "It's going to be huge and we want the people of Northamptonshire to come and join in. What better way to put Kettering on the map?"

The idea to try and break a Guinness World Record came from local businessman Silvano Geranio and wheels were soon put in motion.

Those taking part will pay £5 to attend the class with proceeds going to We Mind & Kelly Matters, which was set up after the death of 24-year-old Kelly Hewitt.

Kelly worked as a prison officer at HMP Bedford and took her own life after suffering from anxiety and depression.

Earlier this month an inquest in Milton Keynes recorded her cause of death as suicide with a report under regulation 28 - known as a preventing future deaths report - compiled and sent to the prisons minister, who has 56 days to say what action they plan to take.

Money raised at the world record attempt fundraiser will help fund the charity's services such as counselling and a live chat for those in need of support.

The funds will be welcome after a difficult year due to Covid-19, with the Kelly's Heroes cycle ride raising tens of thousands of pounds but many other fundraisers postponed because of restrictions.

Kelly's dad John Hewitt, 50, said: "It's going to be a brilliant event and we are hoping that as many people in Northamptonshire get behind it as they can."

At the fun event there will also be zumba and a session by diet and fitness expert Rosemary Conley, who will be attending.

It will also be a landmark class for 48-year-old Mrs Menzies, who will be retiring and selling her business Weigh-In & Work-Out with Miranda at the end of the year.

Having helped raise thousands of pounds over the years for charities including Crazy Hats and Johnny's Happy Place, she wanted to do something big to end her career on and raise the profile of Wicksteed Park.

The mum-of-two, who lives in Barton Seagrave, hopes the September date gives people an incentive to get fit for it.

She added: "During Covid-19 a lot of people have struggled with their mental health and a lot of people have taken to the outdoors for their exercise.

"We wanted to do something which will not only raise lots of money to help people, but raise awareness of mental health problems and give people a chance to exercise too."

Entrance to the event will be from 9am on September 12 to make sure everyone is ready for warm-up sessions, starting at 10am.

The workout class will begin at 11am and last about 30 minutes, followed by some warm-down activities.

Because of Guinness World Record rules all entrants must be aged 16 or above and those aged 16 or 17 will be required to provide a parental consent form before the day of the event.

To buy tickets, visit https://wemindandkellymatters.org.uk/workout-wickys/ or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workout-wickys-tickets-147610658453.