Last Updated on 02/11/2023 by Emma Purcell
To mark Learning Disability Week 2023 (19th to 25th June), Mencap has announced that two ‘Myth Busters’ – Heidi Crowter and Harvey Price – have been smashing preconceptions about learning disability with Guinness World Record attempts.
UPDATED: 26/07/2023 – Harvey Price completes his World Record challenge
The records were achieved under Guinness World Records’ new impairments initiative, developed alongside the learning disability charity Mencap. The initiative allows reasonable adjustments to be made for record attempts to better include people with a learning disability.
Heidi Crowter – most celebrity birthdays identified in three minutes
Heidi Crowter, who has Down syndrome, has set the Guinness World Records title for the most celebrity birthdays identified in three minutes.
The 26-year-old from Coventry, became a Guinness World Records title holder after recalling an astonishing 70 celebrity birthdays, from Queen Victoria and Margaret Thatcher to Brad Pitt and Shakira, without hesitation.
I’m a @GWR holder!! Most celebrity birthdays in 3 minutes. I got 70!! pic.twitter.com/3ro3XzMFYs
— Heidi Crowter-Living the dream (@HeidiCrowter95) June 19, 2023
As well as spending her time honing her impressive memory skills, Heidi is a passionate disability rights campaigner and is married to her husband James who also has Down’s syndrome.
Heidi Crowter said: “I am feeling very proud of myself for achieving a Guinness World Record! I love sharing my joy of birthdays with people, and I have been writing a birthday list and practising a lot; everyone knows that practice makes perfect!”
She added: “Achieving a Guinness World Record means I can do anything I set my mind to! I am proud to be a Mencap Myth Buster and keep challenging perceptions about what I can achieve.”
Follow Heidi Crowter on Twitter and Instagram.
Harvey Price – an attempt to draw a 20m long and 1m high train
If that wasn’t enough, fellow Mencap Myth Buster Harvey Price, 21, will also begin his own record attempt during Learning Disability Week.
Harvey Price has autism, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Septo-Optic Dysplasia and a learning disability. He lives at a residential college in Cheltenham. Harvey has a love of trains and will be taking on the Guinness World Records title for the world’s longest train drawing.
Harvey, alongside ten friends from the college who also have learning disabilities, has begun their attempt to draw a 20m long and 1m high train and aims to complete it in over one month.
Katie Price, Harvey Price’s mum said: “I’m unbelievably proud of Harvey for doing this Guinness World Records challenge! He continues to defy the odds and amazes me every day. He absolutely loves drawing trains, so I know he’ll get so much enjoyment out of this experience.”
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Harvey Price completes his World Record challenge
On 13th July 2023, Mencap announced that Harvey become a Guinness World Records title holder for the longest train drawing, measuring 21.3m long and 1m high.
Katie Price said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for Harvey; I can’t believe he’s got his own Guinness World Record! It’s fantastic! He’s worked so hard on completing his drawing and I think he’s done amazingly well. We officially have a Guinness World Record holder in the family and everyone is so happy for him.”
Alison Pike from Mencap said: “Harvey is continuing to bust myths and preconceptions about what it means to live life with a learning disability, and we are delighted that his passion for trains has led to him being a world record breaker.
We’re looking forward to continuing our work with Guinness World Records to encourage more people with a learning disability to take on a world-class challenge.”
Follow Harvey Price on Instagram.
Challenging misconceptions about people with learning disabilities
This Learning Disability Week is all about challenging misconceptions about life with a learning disability, with people across the country busting myths and showing what they can achieve – including becoming Guinness World Records title holders!
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Mencap Myth Busters are a team of ambassadors championed by Mencap to show the world what having a learning disability means today and include athletes, activists, business owners, actors, a model, a dancer, a football coach and more.
Mencap’s CEO, Edel Harris OBE, said:
“It’s truly groundbreaking for Mencap to be working with Guinness World Records to ensure breaking records is something that’s accessible and achievable for people with a learning disability.
People with a learning disability just like the wider population have a range of amazing skills and talents. It is crucial to provide a platform for people with a learning disability to not only provide equal opportunities but also bust myths about what people can and can’t do.
Edel added: “We’re so proud of our Mencap Myth Busters Heidi and Harvey for paving the way and taking on the amazing challenge of setting a Guinness World Record!”
Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said:
“The opportunity to become a record holder and be the best in the world at something must be open to absolutely everyone.
We’re proud to be working with Mencap to spread this message far and wide. We want to celebrate people of all abilities and showcase them in a book that offers a true snapshot of our gloriously diverse world.”
Have you got a learning disability and have a unique and original skill or talent you’re keen to share? Let us know in the comments box or on social media.
