Photo: Chicago Children United for Ukraine
A group of Chicago teenagers have big goals for their unique art project.
Ryder Shiffman, 16, and his friend Michael Kotcher, 15, tell PEOPLE they “wanted to attempt” to break the Guinness World Record for the largest cereal box mosaic while also raising “awareness and support for Ukraine” amid Russia’s ongoing attack, whichbegan six months ago.
So the teens, who both attend the Latin School of Chicago, decided to construct a giant version of the Ukrainian flag.
All in all, the teens say it took 4,932 boxes of Kellogg’s cereal to complete the design — with Corn Pops used for the yellow portion and Rice Krispies for the blue.
To help put everything together, the teens also got some assistance from fellow members of a group called Chicago Children United for Ukraine.
Chicago Children United for Ukraine
The mosaic was built between August 10 and 12 at the Wintrust Grand Banking Hall in Chicago, according to aGoFundMestarted in support of the project.
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Teens with the group known as Chicago Children United for Ukraine build the Ukraine flag mosaic out of cereal boxes.Chicago Children United for Ukraine
Additionally, the teens have used GoFundMe to raise over $25,000 for Ukraine, which was the goal they set for themselves at the beginning of the project.
The money will be given toRazom, a New York-based nonprofit Ukrainian-American human rights organization.
Independent surveyors measured the flag at 34 feet in width and 86 feet in length, according to the teens — but the final word about if they broke the record hasn’t been made just yet.
A spokesperson for Guinness World Records tells PEOPLE they have received an application for the project and “are currently awaiting evidence to review.”
source: people.com