About Proud2bpat

The official London St Patrick¹s Day celebrations on Sunday 16th March was truly record breaking, at least in one way, as theProud2bPat campaign broke the world record for the largest number of people with the same name in one place -­ the name of course being none other than Patrick (or Patricia).

Irish bakery Irwin¹s and top 'Irish Chef' Paddy (formerly Paul) Rankin asked all genuine and honorary Pats to stand up and be counted in a unique St Patrick's Day fundraiser for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Part of the
campaign saw honorary Patricks join the genuine ones, as these 'wannabe Patricks' were encouraged to get sponsored to change their name for the day via an official campaign facility provided by the UK Deed Poll Service, which will allow them to be formally counted in the record attempt.

The current record stands at 1096 Mohammeds, and over 1100 Paddies today broke the record with all funds raised going to the Hospital.

What is the ‘Proud 2 B Pat’ World Record Attempt?

Research shows that the name ‘Patrick’ (and its many derivatives) is declining in popularity year on year in the UK.  We need to take action now to restore this great name to its rightful place at the top of the baby name poll.

Using St Patrick’s Day as the perfect platform to promote the name, Rankin Selection Irish Breads, made by Irish bakery Irwin’s together with Paul Rankin, will attempt to break the world record to gather the largest number of people with the same first name in one place.

All funds raised will go to Great Ormond Street Hospital.  Welcoming around 150,000 patient visits each year and treating the most complex, life-threatening or life-limiting conditions, the Hospital can only continue to deliver this standard of treatment, care and research through such important fundraising.

The Record Attempt

When? – Between 12 noon and 3pm on Sunday 16^th March

Where? – Trafalgar Square, London (part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations) - look for the special 'Proud2bPat Paddy Field'

How Many? With the current world record standing at 1096 (Mohammeds registered in Dubai in 2005), we need 1,100 Patricks to succeed in breaking the record. 

Proof– All we will need is a birth certificate or a passport to verify the validity of your name.  We will register and count all Patricks, Paddies, Pats, Padraigs or Patricias who attend and are Proud2Bpat.  We will also accept deed poll certificates to show people have changed their names to Patrick/Patricia for the day. We will be required to provide proof to the Guinness World Records and will need to take copies of the documents – so if you are able to bring a photocopy that will help to speed up the process.

Registration– Register your support online now and if possible visit our very own ‘Paddy Field’ at Trafalgar Square in the centre of London to be be counted in the largest ever showing of ‘Paddy power’.

Donations– For everyone who registers, Rankin Selection Irish Breads will make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital and will invite you to make a donation as well to this fantastic cause.  

Plastic Paddies – Even if your’e not lucky enough to share this great name now, don’t worry…we will welcome wannabe Patricks also.  In fact, we are even encouraging people to change their name to Patrick or Patricia for the day – and have set up a very easy deed poll service, so you too can be counted on the day.

If you fancy becoming a Patrick just for the day, please ask your friends and family to sponsor you to do so using our ‘Wannabe Patrick’ sponsorship form.  Remember, all proceeds are going to Great Ormond Street Hospital. We will also take name change applications on the day, so you can still call yourself Patrick on St Patrick's Day !

Win - If helping such a worthwhile cause is’nt reason enough to get on board the ‘Paddy Wagon’… if you register on our Proud2Bpat website before 16^th March we will automatically enter you into a draw to win one of three weekend breaks to Ireland courtesy of Tourism Ireland and Rankin Selection Irish Breads as well as five runner up prizes of luxury Rankin Selection hampers. 

Raising Much Needed Funds for GOSH

As part of the world record attempt we will be hoping to raise as much money as possible for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Rankin Selection Irish Breads will start the process by committing to make a donation for every registration received at both the ‘Paddy Field’ and online through this website. As an added incentive, all online registrations will immediately be entered into a draw for a number of weekend breaks in Ireland. 

We will also encourage all those who register for the campaign to make their own donations directly to the campaign on the Great Ormond Street Hospital website.  Just follow the link and make sure to reference the Proud2Bpat campaign in your ‘Reason for Donation’ section so we can collate your donations.

Telephone Donations

You can also make a telephone donation by contacting the hospital directly and again quoting the Proud2Bpat campaign as the reason for donation.

Please contact: Sarah Hegley, Corporate Partnerships Dept, Great Ormond Street Hospital on Tel: 020 7239 3057

Wannabe Patricks? – Get Sponsored to Change Your Name for the Day

Another unique fundraising element will allow wannabe Patricks to join the campaign by changing their name for the day via our official deed poll partners – the UK Deed Poll Service - and to be sponsored to do so. This simple service will incur a nominal fee of £4 (which will also go to the Great Ormond Street Hospital) and means that more people can be officially counted in our world record attempt.  You do not need to actually change your name in practice or to change your name back after the world record attempt. 

You can find out more about this fun fundraising method in our FAQs section and then follow the link to our Deed Poll partner to process your application. They will be in attendance on the day to distribute all the deed polls of those ‘honorary Patricks’ who have confirmed their intention to attend the world record attempt. We will even be there to take on the day name change applications, so you can still be called Patrick or Patricia for St Patrick's Day on 17th March. For those unable to attend but still keen to fundraise by changing their name for the day, the nominal charge will also cover postage and delivery costs. This information is available on the link provided. 

You can also download the official sponsorship form at the following link.

Get Sponsored to be an Honorary Patrick!

Deed Polls are an official change of name document which can then be used to effect a name change within the UK if desired. We have teamed up with – UK Deed Poll Service – to offer a hassle free service for a nominal charge of £4 (which will also go towards Great Ormond Street Hospital) to those wannabe Patricks who want to join our campaign and to raise money from their family and friends in doing so.

If you apply to change your name to Patrick, you will receive a special deed poll certificate which can then be used to verify you as an honorary Patrick.  To be part of the record attempt, you should take this to the ‘Paddy Field’ Registration point at Trafalgar Square on 16^th March along with a current birth certificate or passport to prove the name change. We will have the facility to take name change applications on the day as well, so you can still be officially recognised as Patrick for St Patrick's Day on 17th March.

Sponsorship forms to encourage Change of Name via Deed Poll are available to download as a clickable and downloadable pdf here.  We ask you to raise as much money from your family and friends as you can for your name change.

Bring Your Sponsorship Money With You

When you have gathered all your sponsorship money you can bring it along with your completed sponsorship form on the world record day to our Paddy Field in Trafalgar Square on 16^th March. Here we will also provide you with your very own deed poll certificate (if required) as proof of your name change, meaning you can officially be counted in the world record attempt.

Sponsorship Money via Cheque/Postal Order

If you are not able to make to London on 16^th March you can post the completed form and money to us. For those unable to attend on the day but still keen to fundraise, the nominal charge incurred will also cover postage and delivery costs. This will be explained in the deed poll registration service at the link provided. 

Please send your sponsorship form and cheque or postal order payable to:
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and send it to the following by 31st March 2008:

Sarah Hegley
Corporate Partnerships Dept
Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity
40 Bernard Street
London, WC1N 1LE