On November 21 and 22, four friends from Lancashire—Nathan Young, Benny Evinson, Marcus Mollinga, and David Davies—will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest padel match ever played. The current record stands at 31 hours, 38 minutes, and 50 seconds. Their goal is to play for 40 hours straight at the Zooki Padel Arena in Blackpool.
The effort is more than a sporting challenge. It’s a deeply personal mission to raise funds for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT), a charity that has supported Nathan and his family through their journey with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer.
A personal story of resilience
Nathan Young was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma as a child, a condition that affects both eyes. After months of treatment at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, doctors were able to preserve some vision in his right eye, but his left eye had to be removed and replaced with a prosthetic.
“So, my vision isn’t very good,” Nathan said. “I do, however, consider myself lucky, and try to always think it could have been much worse.”
Despite the challenges, Nathan has lived an active life, driven by the encouragement of his parents and the support of his friends. “Though I never quite made it as a professional footballer or a top 10 padel player, I like to think I’m a good example of somebody that will get stuck in and have a go at everything,” he commented.
A new generation, a renewed fight
In 2019, Nathan’s daughter Izzy was born. Early tests revealed that she too had retinoblastoma. She underwent several cycles of chemotherapy, and while she is expected to lose vision in one eye, doctors are hopeful she will retain sight in the other thanks to early diagnosis and treatment.
“Despite a challenging start to life, it’s been unbelievably fulfilling to watch her take life in her stride and just go for it,” Nathan said. “She’s a tough kid.”
His youngest daughter, Sophie, does not have the condition—a relief confirmed through prenatal testing.
Giving back through padel
The upcoming record attempt is Nathan’s way of giving back to CHECT, whose support he described as “absolutely immense” during the most difficult moments of his and Izzy’s treatment.
“It’s really difficult to explain just how valuable the support from CHECT has been,” he said. “What I do know is it is my time to give back and ensure that families who have their RB journeys to come are able to receive the same support that we were fortunate enough to have had.”
The rules and the road ahead
The match will follow strict Guinness World Record guidelines. The same four players must play continuously, in fixed pairs, with only five-minute breaks allowed per hour of play. An official match score must be recorded and submitted for verification.
The team will begin early Friday morning and aim to finish by 8 p.m. on Saturday. After the match, they will host a fundraising race night to further support CHECT’s mission.
Their effort blends endurance, friendship, and purpose—an inspiring rally for awareness, research, and hope.
