Canadian will attempt to break drumming record for cancer research

The prospect of setting a new Guinness World Record is not enough for drummer Steve Gaul.

Raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society is great, but for Gaul the motivation required to complete a five-day long drumming session comes from his late sister Toni.

"She's probably the only reason I'm doing it," said Gaul in a Spec.com story. Toni Clement lost her battle with para nasal cancer nearly a year ago.

Gaul will try to break the world record for the longest drumming session - which currently sits at 120 hours - this Friday, marking his second attempt at the jaw-dropping musical feat.

Last year's attempt lasted just over 73 hours, and Gaul certainly knows what he's got himself into.

"I'm anxious. Scared. It's different this year, knowing what you're going to go through," said Gaul in the story. "You just hit those walls. I'll never forget what it felt like to cross 60 hours last year, and thinking 'Oh my god I have to do this again'."

He's in for quite a battle, but this Canadian drummer is a proven fighter. Gaul was only 23 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and has thrived cancer-free for the past 10 years.

Toni was present when Gaul made last year's attempt, calling her brother "loopy" for doing so. And though he had raised $27,000, Gaul initially had no plans for a second attempt.

"At first I didn't want to do it," said Gaul in the story. "I thought, 'Why bother?"

But his sister's courageous battle didn't just motivate another try, it inspired him to go even further.

With the help of The Score Television Network that has been broadcasting ads to promote the event, Gaul is hoping to raise $100,000 when he sits behind the drum kit at the Burlington Music Centre.

He's received plenty of support from sponsors such as Yamaha, Entripy.com and Long & McQuade, not to mention fiancée Casey Stinchcombe and their daughter Remi T. Yet Gaul is hoping Toni, who was often referred to as "T", will be his biggest supporter come Friday.

"I hope she's looking down, I hope she's happy," said Gaul in the story. "I hope she's not suffering. I hope she's up there cheering me on. Hopefully, I'll see her at the event. You never know where the brain goes."

(Screengrab: thespec.com)