Tri-Cities parents are vying for a Guinness World Record by participating in a global diaper changing challenge.

The Great Cloth Diaper Change 2011 is happening on World Earth Day (April 23) in nearly 400 communities across the globe. The goal is to set a world record for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously.

At 9:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, more than 9,800 international participants will tuck their baby's tush into a cloth diaper. In the Tri-Cities, a diaper-changing event will take place at Kinder Café in Port Coquitlam.

Port Moody mom Angela Salehi hopes many families will take part, since each location needs at least 25 participants to qualify for the record-setting challenge.

"It's a huge, exciting thing to happen. We're very excited that it's happening in Port Coquitlam. We're inviting everyone from the Tri-Cities to come and join us ... We're all local businesswomen who use cloth diapers and want to promote it," said Salehi, owner of Ripe Baby Food.

"Grandmas, grandpas, brothers, sisters, parents, step-parents -- everybody's involved."

Maggie Chilton, owner of Port Moody-based Toots n' Tots, said cloth diapers will be available for sale at the event.

"They can come in a regular disposable diaper if they want to, as long as they get changed into a 100-per-cent reusable cloth diaper," Chilton said.

"I'm going to be supplying the biodegradable compostable wipes. It's World Earth Day, so we're trying to encourage people to either not bring any because we'll supply the biodegradable wipes or bring their cloth ones."

To qualify for the challenge, the rules require an official timekeeper and check-in person, as well as a supply of photos, video and signed documentation to verify that all

guidelines have been met.

"It's to raise more awareness of the benefits of cloth diapering and bring more awareness of the environment and the damage that we're doing to it unknowingly or knowingly," Chilton said.

The diaper changing challenge will also serve as a fundraiser. Half the proceeds will go to the Real Diaper Association, a non-profit organization. The remainder of the funds will be donated to Charlene Reaveley's family following her death in an alleged hit-and-run accident last month. The 30-year-old woman left behind her husband and four children between the ages of one and 10.

"That's a very serious local issue and concern that's happened. We want to make sure that we're supporting them as well," Salehi said.

"When we were looking at opportunities and charities and issues that we wanted to support, that was top of mind for many of us."

For more information or to register for the Great Cloth Diaper Change, visit www.tootsntots.com, www.ripebabyfood.com or www.greatclothdiaperchange.com. Information is also available on Facebook by searching for the event "The Great Cloth Diaper Change 2011 Event - TriCities."

Participants must sign in at Kinder Café, 2020 Oxford Conn., no later than 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 23.