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It’s official. Mercy Health System of
Kansas has received official confirmation from Guinness World
Records that it has achieved the new world record for the “Largest
Cup of Tea.”
In September, during a Mercy Day
Celebration and community picnic event in Fort Scott, a massive
teacup measuring 9.5 feet at the rim and 5.5 feet tall, with a
three-foot handle, was filled with 660 gallons (3,000 liters) of
tea.
“Prior to our new record, the largest
teacup recorded was 4 feet by 4 feet and held 400 liters or 105.6
gallons,” explained J.D. Webster, Mercy’s Director of Nutritional
Services and mastermind of the teacup project.
An area media crew was on hand to
document the record attempt for Guinness, the universally recognized
authority on record-breaking achievement, which is headquartered in
London.
“The travel expenses and costs
associated with requesting a Guinness official from London to be
present the day of the event were cost prohibitive, so we were able
to satisfy the Guinness requirements by engaging an area television
station to document.”
Pittsburg, Kansas’ KOAM TV recorded
the activities, and documentation and video footage of the attempt
was shipped to Guinness headquarters for verification shortly after
the event.
“The process took longer, but the
results were still very favorable for Mercy,” Webster commented.
The 2010 Guinness World Records Book
is already in publication. Therefore, Mercy’s teacup will not be
recognized until the 2011 edition.
Webster, assisted by his father,
Edwin V. Webster, built the giant teacup as a tribute to the Mercy
history. The teacup has long been recognized as a symbol of
hospitality in the Sisters of Mercy heritage, harkening back to a
story of Mercy foundress Catherine McAuley, who, on her deathbed,
reportedly implored her caretakers to, “See that the Sisters have a
comfortable cup of tea when I am gone.”
“We want to thank J.D. for his vision
and enthusiasm for the project,” said Tina Rockhold, Director of
Wellness and Development for Mercy Health Center of Fort Scott. “He
not only dedicated long hours constructing the teacup, but inspired
others to learn more of the Mercy heritage.”
“This feat also would not have been
possible without the support of our generous sponsors,” Rockhold
added.
All costs associated with the
supplies and materials to construct the teacup were funded by
donations, and event sponsors also provided in-kind contributions.
Sponsors included the Mercy Health Center Auxiliary; Mid-Continental
Restoration, Fort Scott; Convenient Water Supply, Pittsburg; Home
Depot, Pittsburg; Woods Lumber, Independence; and Hugo’s Janitorial
Supply, Independence. |
