If you have been around this track already, just blip this. The Craig
Sherwood chain letter to collect business cards so that a dying boy
can make the Guiness Book of World Records continues to make the
rounds among museum personnel. I received a second one during the past
week. If you want to check it out for yourself, read on. There is a
toll-free number to call.

The Craig Sherwood saga (also known as Craig Shergold, Greg Sherwood,
and other variations) is what is known on the Internet as an Urban
Legend. This story has made the rounds several times. It has been
discussed several times on the Internet. It is not a legitimate
request. The Make-a-Wish Foundation, which is headquartered in Phoenix
and has eighty chapters around the country, does grant wishes to
seriously ill children under the age of eighteen.  This young man is
not one of them and the Foundation has never been involved in this
venture. The well-intended efforts are just costing the foundation money.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has a toll-free number, 800-722-9474. If
you dial it you will find that because of the volume of calls they
receive daily about the chain letter, there is a second number to
dial, 184. This gives information about Craig Sherwood (or Shergood),
the original young man from England, who was recognized by the Guiness
Book of Records in May, 1990, for gathering fifteen million business
cards. He was operated on successfully in March, 1991, for a brain
tumor, and is expected to live a long life. I believe the Guiness Book
of Records has discontinued listing this type of record. The business
cards being generated are evidently being sent to a recycling center.

Pat Miller




Patricia L. Miller, Executive Director
Illinois Heritage Association
601 1/2 East Green St.
Champaign, Illinois  61820
tel: (217) 359-5600; email: [log in to unmask]
visit our homepage: http://www.prairienet.org/iha