As report previously in the Standard, the record they are attempting to break is for the longest netball marathon. The record currently stands at 56 hours and is held by Airborne Netball Club from Bristol.

The teams aim to break the record by two hours by playing continuous netball for 58 hours. The rules and guidelines set out by Guinness World Records are very strict and all players involved must not leave the premises. This means that both squads will be sleeping, eating, showering and changing at Northgate Sports Hall in Sleaford, where the record attempt is taking place, for the whole of the weekend.

A Sleaford Netball Club spokesman said: “This is going to be a mammoth task for all the players. We have had a lot of support from a lot volunteers and both clubs are really grateful for this.”

The players involved in the challenge are hoping to raise much needed funds for the Aneka Rice endorsed charity, Wheel Power. Wheel Power is aiming to provide 2012 sporting wheel chairs to children and young adults by the 2012 Olympics. Each one of these wheelchairs costs £3000 and the netballers are hoping that their efforts will raise sufficient money to go towards the cost of one of these specially adapted wheelchairs.

The clubs are grateful to Sainsbury’s, who have donated fruit for the players to eat over the weekend, Jackson IT Associates for their donation, Wiltshire Farm Foods for providing hot meals, Heckington Butchers for barbecue meat, Northgate Sports Hall for discounted rate of hiring the venue and Gilbert Netball for the match balls and bibs.

Sleaford Netball Club would still like to hear from other sponsors or people willing to make a donation. If you can help, contact Gemma Cope on 07792 600310.

l The world record attempt takes place at Northgate Sports Hall from 8am on Friday to 6pm on Sunday.