Estate agents in England and Australia will attempt to break the current world record for longest Zoom marathon over a period of 33 hours straight.

More than 100 agents will take part in back-to-back Zoom marathons – all in the name of charity. That is the concept behind this year’s Zoomathon, which is supporting Hands Across the Water.

The charity connects underprivileged and disadvantaged Thai children with homes, food, education and ultimately a future.

Simon Whale, who is hosting one of the Zoom sections, said: “I’ve got to admit I thought I’d got pretty thick skinned when it came to what seemed like ‘yet another’  appeal for charity.  When I heard their story, when I watched the video of what these Thai kids many of them orphans had been through I’ll be honest I sobbed like a baby. The sheer level of deprivation was on a level that I’d not witnessed before.

“I knew Sam McLean, the editor of Elite Agent Magazine in Australia from my trip to AREC, their huge trade show over there so when she and Steve Carroll reached out to ask for our help in making this a truly global affair it was an easy decision. When I heard that I was third on the list after Stephen Brown and Christopher Watkins my first thought was ‘yes’! I’m still vaguely relevant, and of course I’d be happy to open for the UK as their fluffer.’

“With some of Australia’s best talent getting involved household names over there including Leanne Pilkington, Rik Rushton, Jet Xavier, Mark McLeod, Jason Scott, Lisa Novak, Paul McGee, David Knox, Fi Blayney, Aaron Shiner and Lee Woodward to just name a few it promises to be an amazing experience. The whole thing cost just $53.45 Australian dollar (around £28) with 100% of the funds going directly to the charity directly helping the kids.

“So given this smorgasbord of talent and knowing what ‘learnings’ Mr Watkins and Stephen will inevitably bring to the party it left me thinking of what niche, what vital angle could I cover. So being the shameless populist I am I called up my old mate Doug Driscoll, a pom expat that’s been in Oz for decades and asked if he thought there might be any interest in a Real Estate Ashes angle, Doug confirmed that after the recent whitewashing of our cricket team the Aussies were hankering to continue rubbing our noses in it.

“At 11am next Tuesday the 1^st Real Estate Ashes will begin with two of Australia’s finest will go head to head with two of Albion’s best.  So like a property version of Ocean’s Eleven I went to my rolodex and got the gang back together.”

Jon Handford, a director at Fine & Country, and Simon Bradbury, MD of Thomas Morris, will among some if the well-known UK agents taking part in the event.

Chris Watkins will be on at 2pm, while Stephen Brown, joined by Spencer Lawrence and Vicky Bibiris, at 3pm.

You can buy tickets here for the event by clicking here.