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Photo by Dan Cruz
Mikey Stephenson holds onto Jackson, while both teams gather in the middle of the soccer field for last-minute instructions and a short prayer.
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Photo by Dan Cruz
Joshua Hellums, coordinator for the Guinness world record soccer event, is interviewed by Channel 20 in Springfield.
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Photo by Dan Cruz
The event’s star, Jackson Steinkuehler, 2, shows off his soccer skills.
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Photo by Dan Cruz
First to the Finish, left, and Dino's Logistics pose for a team photo prior to the start of the game Thursday.
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Photo by Dan Cruz
Justin Hellums had the idea for the event.
A local soccer player has a goal — raise $100,000 for pediatric brain research at Children's Hospital in St. Louis.
Justin Hellums, a goalie at Blackburn College and native of Bethalto, played soccer at Civic Memorial High School in his junior and senior years.
Hellums’ inventive idea was to play a benefit soccer game at Blackburn College stadium in Carlinville. Starting April 10, the Blackburn players are supporting their coach, Rob Steinkuehler, by trying to play for 76 consecutive hours and set a Guinness record for the world's longest soccer game. Three video cameras and two time clocks will ensure the event’s validity for the Guinness submission.
Last year, doctors at St. Louis Children’s Hospital diagnosed Steinkuehler’s 2-year-old son, Jackson, with an abnormal brain growth. After the first surgery, medical staff treated Jackson for meningitis and performed three more brain surgeries.
Justin’s dad, Joshua Hellums, coordinated the fund-raising effort. Steinkuehler, a native of Jerseyville, played soccer for Jersey Community High School, along with his two brothers, who also are playing in the world record attempt.
Joshua Hellums himself already has competed in three Guinness record events and helped out in two others that raised $100,000 each.
“Justin himself spent a week at St. Louis Children’s when he was a young child,” Joshua Hellums said.
The two teams competing are Dino’s Logistics and First To The Finish. Each team consists of 18 players age 19 to 48. Steinkuehler’s two brothers took the time to help out and play in the 76-hour game.
The weather for Thursday’s 1 p.m. kickoff couldn’t have cooperated any better, with blue skies and no rain. Attendance at the start was light but eventually more people came to watch the contest.
Josh Perreault scored the first goal for Dino’s Logistics.
Setting the record would be nice but boosting awareness about brain cancer and raising money are the event’s purposes, Justin Hellums said.
To learn more about supporting the fund-raiser, visit www.worldrecordsoccergame.com. The record would be set at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 13.