Northern Beaches residents have achieved an unofficial world record by forming the world’s largest ever human image of a pineapple at Collaroy on Sunday. The effort, which involved an amazing 670 people, was in support of a much-loved local teen Alana de Kort, who died from cancer.
Organisers say they are “patiently waiting” to see if the effort has the official backing from Guinness World Records.
The attempt supports Alana’s family charity Blue Bottle, which is dedicated to ending childhood cancer.
The above is a follow up from our original article – Pineapple world record attempt in memory of local teen, first published on 13 October 2022.
Why a human pineapple?
Alana loved all things pineapple, and since her passing they have become a symbol to those that knew and loved her. The de Kort family says that some even called her ‘the pineapple princess’.
“We continue to see pineapples everywhere and we think of Alana and smile.”
“Pineapples have become a symbol of Alana within the community, especially at Manly Warringah Netball, Collaroy Surf Club, and her school Mater Maria Catholic College.”
Alana was just 14 when she passed away on the 28 July 2018, less than 10 months after being diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma.
Before getting sick, she had been an avid and accomplished sportswoman- a goal shooter for the Collaroy Plateau U14 netball team, a member of the Manly Warringah Little Athletics Club, with whom she competed at state level in shotput and discus, she was a valuable member of various Rescue & Resuscitation teams and March Past teams for Collaroy Surf Lifesaving Club, and had also won several NSW Surf Lifesaving titles.
And what do blue bottles have to do with pineapples?
Whilst we are no strangers to blue bottles recently here on the Northern Beaches, on the shores of Agnes Waters, located on Queensland’s Discovery Coast, a different type of blue bottle washed up.
At Alana’s celebration of her life, her friends and family wrote messages of love on paper decorated with pineapples that they placed inside a blue bottle.
They sealed the bottle and threw it into the ocean off Long Reef Headland- somewhere that had been one of Alana’s favourite places.
Twelve months later they received a call from a family in Agnes Waters to say they had found Alana’s blue bottle washed up on the beach in front of Agnes Waters Surf Club. The call came through exactly one year after being told by doctors there was nothing more they could do for Alana…and the middle name of the lady who found the bottle and made the call to the de Kort’s…. Alana!
Alana’s family says the unlikely events brought them a much needed reminder of some joy.
“This incredible miracle has given us reassurance that Alana is OK and is always with us. A little sunshine has returned to our lives.”
Event details:
When: Sunday 16 October
What: The formation of the world’s largest human pineapple will commence at 8.30am- participants are asked to arrive no later than 8.15am.
Location:
Griffith Park Playing Field
Anzac Avenue, Collaroy NSW 2097
What to wear:
“To make our pineapple EXTRA AWESOME, we will be providing T-SHIRTS & CAPS for everyone to wear at the event, either GREEN, YELLOW or ORANGE! Selection of your size and preferred colour is part of the booking process”.
There will be limited opportunity to collect your T-SHIRT & CAP on the morning of the event. Collection points will close at 7.30AM to allow for event set up.
Event registration:
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/590698
If you are unable to participate on the day, you can still get involved by donating to Blue Bottle.
Blue Bottle supports the Kids’ Cancer Project and their mission ‘Science is the Solution’, with the money raised from this event going towards scientific research to help find effective cures for childhood cancers.
