We’re sorry, the number you were trying to call has been disconnected

How many times in your life have you heard this message? How many times have you been frustrated by this message?

Why?

Because it’s a promise not kept. You thought you knew the rules (you had the phone number) you used the right procedures (you used the phone and line you were given by your telecommunication company) but when it came to fulfill the promise (your conversation) you were denied it because the phone company decided to disconnect that number.

I came across the Vogel family and their amazing journey on Twitter. Yes, that place where people tell the world what they had to eat for breakfast, and what amazing journeys they embark upon and people meet other people and sponsor their rally from England to Mongolia

I envy the Vogel’s family journey. First, because I myself can not ride a bike (ha-ha! what an amazing exposure here!) but seriously, because they set a goal and followed their dream. Because they were brave enough to make an unusual choice. Because they rode from the northern edge of Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina on the Pan-American Highway.  The twins, Davy and Daryl, were 10 years old when they started this journey and they are the youngest people EVER to achieve such an accomplishment.

I would give them the Guinness World Record just for the thought of doing such a thing.

But, no. Guinness World Records is not willing to give these boys what they deserve, because somewhere along the way someone realised it might make young people do crazy things.

Here is what they say:

Thank you for sending us the details of your recent record attempt for ‘Youngest Person to pedal the length of the Americas’. We are afraid to say that we are unable to accept this as a Guinness World Record.

Unfortunately, we at Guinness World Records, have decided to rest this record, meaning we have decided to no longer recognise the category as a record, due to the fact that the record would reach an age where a person would no longer be able to break it or attempt (i.e. a two-year old attempting to do it) and as it would become limited under these terms, we choose to to no longer recognise it as a category.

I can see the point in what GWR is saying. But hey, they realised that only AFTER the journey started and the attempt to achieve the record changed parts of the decisions made by the family. So, basically, GWR decided to disconnect the line somewhere along the way, though they knew that the Vogel family is attempting to break the record.

I’m writing this post today because I ask you to support the dream of these boys. GWR should recognize the Vogels for accomplishing the 2008 record guidelines.

What can you do to help? Here is what Nancy writes in their blog:

• Sign this petition

• Blog about it – anybody who has a blog or knows anybody who has a blog, please do a quick write-up about this issue and it’s unfairness. I think we should be grandfathered in and then they should close the category. We understand the record the boys broke no longer exists; we would be happy with some sort of official recognition from Guinness – maybe a certificate stating that they met all the requirements as laid out in the guidelines they gave us?  I would be happy to talk with bloggers, but most likely will not consent to interviews with the boys.

• Social media is powerful. They have a facebook page (search Guinness World Records) and their Twitter account is @GWRnews Flood them with messages about this.

• Contact the press – if you have a good, trustworthy source. This is one of those stories that could easily go haywire and I don’t want it twisted every which way. If you know someone in radio/TV/newspaper/magazine media, please contact them. But – don’t just throw it out there for all the kooks to pick up.