A Silent Film for a Loud Celebration: Dashel’s 13th Birthday

In the spirit of resilience, creativity, and a little bit of Chaplin-esque mischief, our family came together to create something special—our very own silent film!

This short, 60-second tribute to classic cinema was made in honor of Dashel’s birthday: “When you have life, you have to reach for the heights and never give up.”

Much like the legendary Charlie Chaplin, Dashel takes center stage, bringing his signature charm and determination to life without a single spoken word. His journey—both on-screen and off—is a testament to perseverance. As he navigates the challenges of childhood chronic kidney disease, his strength and spirit inspire us all.

We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it!

Watch the full silent film below:

Happy 13th, Dashel!

Keep reaching for new heights!!

Dashel is Turning 13!

They say walking a mile in someone else’s shoes is the best way to understand their journey. Now, thanks to rising-star shoe designer Dionis Joi, you can take that mile—literally and symbolically—with shoes that celebrate Dashel’s incredible story of resilience, hope, and courage.

Dash’s life is a testament to living boldly, overcoming challenges, and inspiring others to do the same. As he celebrates his 13th birthday and Bar Mitzvah, you’re invited to join him in making a difference. By purchasing custom swag from Dash’s exclusive collection—sneakers, water bottles, tote bags— you’re not just honoring his journey; you’re helping him make an extraordinary impact.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation in Dash’s name, with a mission to raise $1,800 to support life-saving research and care for those battling kidney disease. Together, we can help Dash build a legacy of hope and generosity.

These aren’t just shoes—they’re a powerful reminder of resilience, of the strength it takes to keep moving forward. When you walk in Dash’s shoes, you walk with purpose, courage, and the knowledge that you’re part of something greater.

Find your own resilience. Take the first step. Celebrate life, and let’s take this journey onward and upward together!

A Tower of Hope

At just 12 years old, Dashel Prywes has achieved something monumental—both literally and figuratively. In an inspiring display of determination, Dashel set a new Guinness World Record for the tallest magnetic tile tower, reaching an incredible 50 feet 8 inches tall! But for Dashel, this wasn’t just about breaking records—it was about raising awareness for a cause close to his heart: chronic childhood kidney disease.

Dashel suffers from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), as he calls it “the unlucky lottery,” and has spent much of his life facing the many challenges that come with the condition. However, instead of letting his condition define him, he’s used it as motivation to make a difference for others. By embarking on this world-record attempt, Dashel aimed to draw attention to the realities of kidney disease in children, hoping to inspire others to join the fight for better treatment and support for those affected.

READ THE FULL POST ON THE MAGNA-TILES BLOG

Labor of Love

This Labor Day we will be attempting to set a Guinness World Record in honor of our son Dashel, who was diagnosed with stage 3 childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD) at age 5. 

We had never heard of CKD before, and as you can imagine it took a lot of work to educate ourselves about what the condition entails and how we may best protect our son. Unfortunately no cure currently exists for CKD, and the condition is so rare that there’s no reliable data as to how many children it affects. 

But what we do know is that when you love someone you are willing to do whatever needs to be done. Including finding creative projects to keep positive energy flowing in the family. 

Growing up, Dashel always loved playing with MAGNA-TILES ®. He’s also an avid rock climber. So why not try to build the tallest magnetic tile structure ever? 

The idea is so… Dashel! And we thank you everyone for contributing to this wild and crazy idea. The number of people who have donated used and new tiles is incredible. The community support is palpable. And the message to Dashel is, “You are not alone. You can do this. And you are loved.” 

What a powerful message!

So this Labor Day we want to send some love back your way. You are invited to be part of this official Guinness record. Did you know that Guinness allows for an unlimited number of people to be listed as record holders? All you have to do is lay down 1 tile.

So come on down to the GOAT Climbing Gym in Hackensack, New Jersey on Monday September 2nd, 2024 at 11 AM. And be a part of this special day and help build the world’s tallest MAGNA-TILE ® structure ever!

PS. People coming in-person need to RSVP and sign a waiver in advance. 
PPS. If you can’t come in person, but want to watch the event over Zoom – click here.
PPPS. We’ll be wearing this T-shirt for fun. You can too (please note this is entirely optional!)

Something BIG is coming!

On Labor Day this year – Monday, September 2nd starting at 11:00am ET – we are going to be operating a Genie z60 articulating boom lift. Why? To help set a new Guinness World Record. Why? To help raise awareness for Childhood Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).  

Why? 
Because our 12-year old son Dashel has CKD. As you can imagine, learning how to manage his condition has been a journey. And now that journey will include a Genie! A Genie that weighs 22,520 pounds and has a maximum platform height of 60 feet, to be precise!

What’s our wish for this Genie?
To build a MAGNA-TILES(r) structure 50 feet or higher! Guinness has set the bar for establishing a record at 15 meters (about 50 feet), but the ceiling in our venue goes up to 64 feet. Who knows how high we’ll get?

So if you want to see a Genie in action, if someone you love suffers from a chronic disease, or if you want to be a part of a Guinness World Record attempt – HOLD the date:

Date: Monday September 2nd - Labor Day
Venue: GOAT Climbing Gym - 77 River St, Hackensack, NJ)
Time: Starting at 11:00am ET

Our Valentine’s Test Build was a great success!

Check out this video from NBC New York covering the build!

You can also read this article from The Echo about my attempt.

We’re getting great press and making great progress - thank you for your support!

Help Me Build the World’s Tallest Magnetic Tiles Tower!

Materials: We just heard from MAGNA-TILES and they are willing to donate MAGNA-TILES for my effort!!! We are still gladly accepting any used MAGNA-TILES donations to reduce environmental waste and help make my dream come true! Here are some ways you can lend a hand:

• Send us used MAGNA-TILES that you no longer need! Email julianne.wotasik@cglobal.com for our mailing address.

• Ask your neighbors and friends to donate used MAGNA-TILES as well.

• Post on your local Freecycle and NoWaste groups and ask for used MAGNA-TILES!

Space: GOAT climbing gym in Hackensack, NJ has graciously agreed to let us use their space! They have a sweet setup that can handle a tower 5 stories high.

Time: There will probably be a need for lots of other little tasks so if you would like to volunteer to be on my team, sign up here! We will let you know about opportunities to donate your time and expertise. For example, someone with an engineering background can give advice; someone with camera equipment can film the whole thing since Guinness will need evidence; we'll also need witnesses to the event for documentation purposes.

Let’s spread the word: Sign up for updates on my project here - and always feel free to share this site or those updates with your friends, family, and network!

Hi, my name is Dashel.

I’m 11 years old and I have stage three chronic kidney disease, but that doesn’t stop me from rock climbing, playing the flute, and having an awesome life. This year I am trying to set a Guinness World Record for Tallest Magnetic Tiles tower ever, to raise awareness for childhood kidney conditions, but I could use your help!

The current record stands at 15 meters, so we may need *a lot* of magnetic tiles to beat it—up to 20,000 or so! If you would like to donate a box of Magnatiles, please click the links below. You can also donate any amount of money towards our effort or join my support team!

Thank you so much for helping me make my crazy dream come true!

Sincerely,

Dashel