Maryville College senior's charity hopscotches to Guinness world record
From Staff ReportsOriginally published: October 12. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: October 11. 2009 10:39PM
Maryville College senior Blake Chasteen is majoring in international business, but this year he applied his entrepreneurial skills close to home.
Chasteen's nonprofit organization, the Beautiful Feet Project, hosted the world's longest hopscotch course, spanning across 20,000 hopscotch squares — or about four miles.
His goal was to raise enough money to purchase 5,000 pairs of shoes from TOMS Shoes, which is a company that matches every pair of shoes purchased with a new pair of shoes for children in need.
Despite the rainy weather, about 1,000 participants and supporters showed up at the development on Watts Bar Lake. Chasteen said it turned out to be a very inspiring day and the event raised $10,000.
While TOMS distributes shoes to communities around the globe, the Beautiful Feet Project will donate its share to the Appalachian community. “There is so much need in this area. It's one of the most impoverished areas in the country,” Chasteen said.
A representative from Guinness World Records also honored Victory Baptist Church with a plaque for creating “the world's longest hopscotch game” and Chasteen's world record will be recognized on its official Web site at www.guinnessworldrecords.com.
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