“YMCA” may not be an acceptable word during a game of scrabble, but the international association’s branch in Malta does not take offence as it is organising a world record attempt for the most simultaneous games of Scrabble.

The current record is 521 games played simultaneously by 1,042 participants from 65 secondary schools and organisations in Singapore on March 14, 2006.

A spokesman for YMCA said August was a very difficult month for the organisation, and they were depending on the public’s generosity to be able to run the two homeless shelters and the drop-in centre it operates. The event will be held on August 27 at 5.30 p.m. at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana.

The Malta Scrabble Club, members of Kunsill Malti għall-iSport, will help YMCA Homeless facilitate the event, and together will brief participants before the Guinness-breaking attempt commences.

The €10 participation fee will all be going in aid of the YMCA Homeless cause, and those who wish to participate can log on to www.ymcahomeless.org where they can subscribe online.

YMCA Homeless provides an average of 60 interventions on a daily basis. YMCA Dar Niki Cassar is home to a maximum of 22 homeless people most of whom are often women and children.

The YMCA Minors shelter currently accommodates six youngsters varying between 14 and 17 years of age.