A new Guinness World Record for the most awareness ribbons on a single vehicle was set over the weekend.

The new record was set by Anel Alexander, Babette Labuschagne, Billy Cowley and Kate Hayes, who managed to break the 5 637 ribbon record and set a new record of more than 7 200 ribbons on a car.

The four cancer ambassadors from South Africa gathered around a Renault Duster 4×4 in a powerful act of unity – transforming the vehicle into a moving monument of courage, loss, and hope.

The event took place at Renault Silver Lakes in Pretoria east on Saturday, and their target was 6 000 ribbons – each one carrying a name, a story, and a heartbeat.

Every ribbon was hand-tied, hand-written, and deeply personal – a tribute to someone touched by cancer, a message of remembrance, or a symbol of hope for those still fighting the disease.

At the centre of it all is Billy Cowley, a stage 4 cancer fighter, and a man whose name has become synonymous with resilience, said that the car carried thousands of names and stories, each symbol of courage, love, and the fight against cancer.

Joining him are three women whose own stories bring layers of meaning to the project.

Labuschagne, a fellow survivor, radiates light wherever she goes – her laughter, she says, is her victory song.

Alexander, the beloved actress who lost her husband to cancer, channels her pain into purpose.

“This is more than a record attempt,” she said.

Cowley has turned his personal battle into a mission to uplift others.

Over the years, he’s shared his journey openly, inspiring thousands with his honesty, humour, and unwavering belief in hope.

And then there’s Kate Hayes – just nine years old, a bright-eyed survivor whose bravery reminds everyone that even the smallest voices can echo the loudest messages.

Each ribbon was different, as required by Guinness World Records, with no two looking the same. Handwritten ribbons transformed the car into a patchwork of remembrance, resilience, and love.

The public participated in this record-breaking moment by sponsoring ribbons for R30 each, of which every donation represents a tribute – a name of someone you love, someone you’ve lost or someone who’s still fighting.

Donors could even share the names to be written on the ribbons, ensuring that every story finds its place on the car.

Businesses got involved by launching company challenges, sponsoring hundreds of ribbons, and daring other organisations to match or surpass their contribution.

Each corporate challenge helped cover a greater part of the car, transforming competition into compassion.

All proceeds from the initiative will go to Pink Drive and Sungardens Hospice, two organisations tirelessly working to fight cancer through awareness, education, screenings, and patient care.

Billy added that this project is about far more than breaking a record. “It’s about giving people a place to remember, to celebrate, to heal. When we see that car – covered in colour, in names, in love – we’ll see what South Africa is capable of when we come together.”

As the final ribbon was tied, the car became more than a vehicle; it was a symbol, a reminder that while cancer may touch countless lives, hope travels further.

Each knot told a story and each colour carried a message.

And when the car finally drives away – shimmering under the weight of 6 000 names – it will not only drive into the record books, but straight into the hearts of a nation.

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