Cancer charity covers American lawn with record-breaking flock of 7,500+ garden flamingos

A well-manicured lawn next to the beach in Oak Island, North Carolina, USA was covered in a sea of garden flamingos last month, after Pledge the Pink (USA) turned the whole town pink for their record-breaking annual cancer fundraiser.

Thanks to some help from their local “flock-stars” – what they call their enthusiastic pack of volunteers – the group placed a grand total of 7,654 plastic birds in a curling queue that measured 2,955.4 ft (900.81 m) long. From beak to tail, that’s a chain twice as tall as the Empire State Building!

With each bird representing $100 (£75) donated to the breast cancer nonprofit, the group raised over $700,000 (£530,000) with the event itself – and reclaimed their Guinness World Records title for the longest line of garden flamingos in the process.

Pledge the Pink first started in 2011 as a local charity race in South Carolina, aiming to keep their region fit whilst raising funds for breast cancer screenings and treatment for underinsured Americans.

Since then, they’ve expanded into a massive 501(c)(3) organization that’s raised over $7 million (£5.3 million) in donations, particularly through their fun-loving community events. In addition to the race and a 30-mi (48-km) walk, they now also offer a getaway experience at the beach in Oak Island, where attendees can spend an adventurous weekend with like-minded, charitable folks.

The pink line of garden flamingos has been a tradition at Pledge the Pink’s getaways over the years, and in 2016, they made their first successful record attempt with 1,058 birds at Callawassie Island in South Carolina.

Unfortunately, their title was then broken in 2018 by Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (USA) in Buffalo, New York, with their line of 1,500 birds – yet nevertheless, just like their cancer-fighters, Pledge the Pink doesn’t give up easily. They returned later with a line of 3,753 flamingos, thus setting off a true battle for the crown.

Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy last took the title in 2022 with 4,280 birds, so Pledge the Pink was determined to reclaim the record this time around with an even greater number.

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After encouraging all of their flock-stars to come out in full-force, the organization helped them prepare thousands of hot-pink flamingos for this shot at the title.

Each donor was allowed to decorate their bird however they saw fit – and as the lawn filled with fowl, some of them stood out for their fashionable attire, with feathered boas, sunglasses, and makeup.

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Thomas Bradford was also present at the attempt, entrusted with counting the number of birds and maintaining the size of the line – and as he walked around with his clicker, he was delighted to see the number of enthusiastic (and pink-clad) attendees at this charity event.

“It was a treat to get to watch so many volunteers from local groups from Oak Island come out to help with this attempt,” he said. 

“Mainly made up of retirees, it was heavy work in the sun, but they were so joyful throughout and absolutely elated to get the record for Pledge the Pink and the island.”

Finally, the line was fully assembled, and Thomas was able to announce to the group that they had officially taken the title. 

With 7,654 birds, they had almost doubled the previous record set in Buffalo – while providing a beautiful visual display of support for breast cancer patients across the country. 

“We are thrilled to reclaim the Guinness World Records title,” said the organizers after the event.

“And we’re even more excited to have raised over $700k in the process!”

So congratulations to all the flock-stars and flamingo-lovers at Pledge the Pink – once again, you are Officially Amazing!