News

Publisher of the Guinness World Records book has warned that a chain letter asking organisations to send compliment slips to a young boy with terminal cancer is a hoax.

Councils, schools and voluntary organisations are among the thousands that have received the letter, and spent time making copies to forward on to others as requested.

A version of the letter has been sent many times to Community Care, stating that seven-year-old "John Craig" is suffering from terminal cancer and has an ambition to enter the Guinness World Records book for having the largest collection of compliment slips.

The letter asks for a slip to be sent to the boy, and the attached papers, which list previous participants, to be forwarded to 10 organisations.

Guinness World Records said that the chain letter developed from a genuine record attempt by a young cancer sufferer called Craig Shergold, who gained an entry in the 1991 edition of the book for receiving the most get well cards. Shergold recovered from the cancer, but his family still receives more than 1,000 unwanted items of post each day.

Research director Chris Sheedy said that Guinness World Records "desperately" wants to put a stop to the chain letter, which appears in different forms.

"My advice is to not send on any chain mail that mentions Guinness World Records, because it's not a record that we will accept. Please contact anyone you know who has received or is going to receive this mail and give them the same advice."

Mental health charity Mind, publisher of Openmind magazine, which forwarded the letter, said that it did so with good intentions.

"We passed on this letter in the good faith that it was a genuine request to help a little boy with terminal cancer, having received the letter through various other reputable organisations. We are very sorry if our participation has caused any hurt, and will be contacting all other organisations with the information now provided," said spokesperson Anny Brackx.