Last month, a Greensboro man was killed in a freak accident at UNC Greensboro. This weekend, the community is coming together to remember him with what they hope will be the world’s record for longest continuous billiards match.Rikki Cunningham, an avid pool player, is in Shooters Sports Bar & Billiards at least twice a week. He’s hoping to turn his hobby into a cause in honor of Gerardo Urbina, after the former Marine was electrocuted to death on campus – leaving behind a wife and three sons.
Cunningham, 33, is trying to set a new world's record for the longest continuous billiards match by going for 72 hours. He’s not interested in a trophy or bragging rights.
"I wanted to help bring the community together over a tragic accident and raise some money to go to Jerry's children,” said Cunningham.
Bar manager, Louise Gillespie, jumped at the opportunity to help.
"My hat’s off to Rikki,” said Gillespie. “It's a really big deal to try and go the days straight shooting pool. I think what makes it a little more important is a lot of people, they'll have something for charity. But Rikki's actually physically doing something he doesn't have to do it."
While the marathon is to raise money for Urbina's family, it also serves another purpose. -- to tell others about their dear friend.
“Jerry was a lot like me -- a small guy with a big heart,” said Cunningham. “He touched everybody. He was very caring. He loved his children."
As a testament of their love, Urbina's wife, Eve, watched quietly from a corner, saying it still hurts too much to talk about her late husband. But for Cunningham, this is therapy.
"It was a way for me to take the grief and the loss that I felt and take it to a constructive, creative place and create something out of the grief,” he said.
Cunningham says the community can help by coming down and playing pool with him. The billiards marathon started at 7 a.m. Friday morning, and will end Monday at 7 a.m.
If you'd like to make a donation to the Urbina Children's Fund to participate, you can stop by Shooters Sports Bar and Billiards any time this weekend. That address is 3808 High Point Road in Greensboro.
Rikki Cunningham - Longest Continuous Billiards Match World Record Video