Friday, January 22, 2010

Largest Pokémon Collection - world record set by Lisa Courtney

  Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK -- Lisa Corney , 21, a disabled woman who dedicated the last 12 years to collecting Pokémon has a Pokemon memorabilia collection of more than 13,400 items - which sets the new world record for the Largest Pokémon Collection .

 Photo: Lisa Courtney surrounded by the world's Largest Pokémon Collection Photo: PA
   ( enlarge photo )

The 21-year-old, from Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, has spent 13 years building up the World's Largest Pokémon Collection which she said has swelled to more than 13,400 since it was counted by Guinness world records last year and fills most of the house she shares with her mother haron.

"My family have been incredibly supportive considering the collection takes up the whole house, including my mother's room.

    "I've even named the room where my main collection resides Pokemon Centre Europe."

    Lisa began her love affair with Pokemon when she saw a picture of Pikachu in a Nintendo magazine and started collecting even though she had no idea what the characters were.

    "My favourite is a plush toy of the character Absol," she said. "I fell in love with it."

    Lisa said she will never get bored of collecting: "There's always something new coming out in Japan. There's so much out there."

   Pokémon is a hugely successful videogame series published by the video game company Nintendo. Lisa's dedication to the cause of collecting the memorabilia has seen her visit Japan 5 times, and she has another trip planned for this year.

    Severely bullied as a teenager, Lisa Courtney told the WHT she turned to her Largest Pokémon Collection during dark times in her life.
    “I was severely bullied at senior school, both verbally and physically. “The bullying was quite bad and I was tearful most days. I have a disabled arm and they called me Elephant Man.” She added: “Coming home from school the Pokémon really helped me through the hard times.”

     She has been to Japan five times and plans to go back this year for another "spending spree".

     Lisa says: "To hold a world record for something you feel so passionate about is just an indescribable feeling."

    The previous Guinness world record for the Largest Pokémon Collection was set by Belle Starenchak of the United States with over 8,000 Pokemon collectables.