YORK students are masterminding a fundraising bid to break a world record - by playing the longest-ever game of canoe polo involving the greatest number of players.

More than 300 paddlers from as far afield as Portsmouth and Aberdeen are taking part in the Canoe Polo Cancer Challenge, which is on target to raise more than £10,000, and has 40 corporate sponsors.

The event, which is being held this weekend at Hatfield Water Park, in Doncaster, will last 24 hours.

Members of the University of York Canoe Club decided to organise the ambitious fundraising bid after 23-year-old York graduate and fanatical canoeist Ruth Holdway was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, a form of lymphatic cancer.

The proceeds will be split between three cancer charities - 60 per cent to Cancer Research UK, and 20 per cent each to Cancer Bacup and to University Hospital North Staffordshire Chemotherapy Unit, where Ruth is having treatment.

Ruth, who chairs Cancer Challenge, said: "I'm overwhelmed by the support and generosity of everybody involved.

"We're praying for pleasant weather. I just hope that it will be a fantastic event."

There will be two teams of five players, each playing 30 minutes, with rolling substitutions to keep the game going continuously for 24 hours.

Each competitor is being asked to raise a minimum sponsorship of £10 for adults and £5 for children.

Updated: 10:45 Monday, May 31, 2004