Bucharest, Romania – Tens of thousands of people convened in Romania’s capital on Saturday to participate in an event that set a Guinness World Record and raised funds for what organizers described as the nation’s first pediatric psychiatry hospital. The event, dubbed the "Uniting Table," featured a 5,055-meter (3.1-mile) long table stretching along Unirii Boulevard to Constitution Square.
The Romania-based Bloom The World Association was recognized by Guinness World Records for the "longest table made from recycled materials." Approximately 20,000 people attended the event, with many tables adorned with decorations.
![People gather at a 5-kilometer long "Uniting Table" outside the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania.]( "People gather at a 5-kilometer long "Uniting Table" outside the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania.")
Funds generated from the event are designated for a new children's psychiatric facility to be built within the Obregia Hospital complex in Bucharest. The Metropolis Foundation is leading the construction project, which is projected to cost an estimated €16.5 million ($19.4 million) and will be financed through private donations and sponsorships.
According to the foundation, the project addresses a significant need, as the current pediatric psychiatry section at Obregia Hospital operates in cramped and outdated conditions that do not meet the medical or emotional requirements of children. The new facility is anticipated to serve over 5,700 children annually who are experiencing severe mental illnesses.
The foundation has noted an alarming increase in diagnosed serious mental disorders among children in Romania, with cases rising from 3,839 in 2018 to over 5,600 in 2024. The existing clinic has 62 beds but lacks adequate private spaces and sufficient amenities.
The planned five-level building will include medical offices, therapy rooms for occupational and virtual reality therapy, sensory and educational spaces, relaxation areas, and a dedicated unit for adolescent addiction treatment. Construction is scheduled for completion by 2027, and Romania's Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, has committed to providing necessary equipment and furniture.
The previous Guinness record for the longest table made from recycled materials was also held by Bloom the World, with a table measuring 2,782 meters, set on the same date the previous year in Alba Iulia, Romania.
In 2023, Romania's healthcare budget was among the lowest in the European Union relative to GDP, standing at 5.7%, compared to the bloc's average of approximately 10%, according to Eurostat.