Two childhood best friends are taking their love of toy cars to the extreme, embarking on a 700-mile adventure to break a Guinness World Record while supporting a cause close to their hearts.
Cassie Aran and Lauren Lee set off from Philadelphia's Independence Hall in October, hoping to reach Niagara Falls, New York, in approximately two months, while bringing viewers along for the ride through regular TikTok updates.
Aran and Lee, both 32, have been friends since kindergarten, when they rode toy Jeeps around their Florida neighborhood, a childhood pastime that helped inspire their latest adventure, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
"We always wanted to take it further," Aran said, the outlet reported.
Instagram/Lauren Lee
Now, they're navigating sidewalks, bike lanes and trails in miniature battery-powered vehicles from Freddo Toys, which were never designed to handle such long distances.
Traveling at an average speed of just 2 mph, they cover roughly 20 miles on a good day. The tiny cars have already experienced mechanical problems, including a broken wire caused by a pedal malfunction. Freddo Toys mechanics have helped the pair troubleshoot issues remotely, even teaching them how to splice wires to keep their pint-sized vehicles moving, per the report.
The pair previously attempted a Guinness World Record in 2024, driving along Florida's coast from Jacksonville to the Keys in Freddo Toys' 48V Rocket ride-on cars. The toy manufacturer partnered with Aran for the ambitious trip, which aimed to cover more than 500 miles while showcasing the vehicles' durability and performance.
"Freddo will be by her side every mile of the journey," the company said in a statement announcing the partnership.
Although they completed the journey, they abandoned their record attempt after a dispute over a $16,000 fee that Guinness World Records wanted them to pay because they were raising money for animal charities, according to News4JAX.
Instagram/Lauren Lee
This time, per The Philadelphia Inquirer, they're documenting their progress with GPS trackers and witness signatures.
According to the article, their mission took on greater meaning after Aran witnessed an apparent suicide attempt at Niagara Falls earlier this year.
"After that we had to take a lot of time to get our heads straight," she said, the outlet reported.
The experience inspired the friends to raise money for To Write Love on Her Arms, a nonprofit helping people access mental health services.
Beyond breaking a record, the friends hope to encourage others to embrace new experiences.
"People's boxes get so tiny and you have no idea how tiny your box is until something or someone blasts it open," Lee said, per the report. "That frame of mind can really get you so far."
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