The Vughtse endurance record attempt to play billiards. That’s actually as spectacular as it sounds. There is one fanatic billiard player who stays awake for almost two full days for charity, and that is Mario Gevers. The cafe is full and that helps him cross the finish line: “They’ll keep me awake.”
Tired Mario Gevers is sitting on an office chair by the billiard table. He is the challenger of the record attempt, which means that he has to play billiards for 44 hours straight. He is now on a short break. And he’s been awake for over 40 hours now.
“Unfortunately, staying sober has not been successful.”
“I still have five hours to go,” he says. “But before this I already made a record attempt of 40 hours.” He had only prepared himself a little better then. “I didn’t drink alcohol for three months and I took many steps every day to train my condition. I wanted to do that training schedule again, but yes. Unfortunately, staying sober did not work.”
The pub is packed around him. Spectators, judges and a marching band. When Mario threatens to doze off, the trombones will honk him from his chair with their rendition of ‘Ons mother zej nog’. The whistles are on the table and the terrace is bulging.
“Even if I haven’t trained well this year, I still have my clear goal. That keeps me going.”
All very nice and cozy, but actually Mario just has a clear goal. With his record attempt, he raises money for the Wish Ambulance, so that people with a terminal illness can still have a beautiful day. “I always see them in my field, in the Philips Stadium. I have to say, that really appeals to me,” he explains. “Even if I haven’t trained well this year, I still have my clear goal. That keeps me going.”
It is not yet known how much Mario has raised for The Wish Ambulance. In any case, he made it to 44 hours. So he can go to sleep soon, with the honking ears of the brass band.