University students break the world's longest hugging record

Faisal Mohyud-Din and Mohammed Azeem managed to hug one another for 24 hours and 17 minutes a whole 16 minutes longer than the previous record.

The stunt was designed to raise money for a new cancer unit at the Christie Hospital in Oldham.

They rounded off their 24-hour hugging marathon at Oldam Athletic's Boundary Park stadium during the match against Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.

The Salford University students took up the challenge because everyone is at risk from the deadly disease.

The Christie Cancer Hospital will be opening its new £17m radiotherapy centre in Oldham later this week.

They were monitored throughout the challenge by officials and had to stay awake at all times.

Mr Mohyud-Din said: "This was certainly a marathon rather than a sprint.

"I needed all my reserves of stamina to get through it, but I'm over the moon to have broken the record - hopefully the first of many."

Alicia Custis, head of communications at The Christie, added: "Massive congratulations to Faisal and Azeem for the world record - they've done fantastically well and fought against sleep deprivation and muscle fatigue.

"I know it was incredibly hard work and I'm hugely grateful to them for doing this for the Christie. This is a hug for all our cancer patients."


/Metro.co.uk/