On Friday morning Gus Martinez broke the world record for the longest time spent on a Ferris wheel. The Los Angeles police detective rode a Santa Monica, Calif. ferris wheel for 25-hours to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Southern California.

Martinez’s 23-year-old son, Jason, is a Special Olympics athlete with Down syndrome.

"I am trying to do this for the organization and to put the word out there to recognize people with disabilities," Martinez told ABC News. "There is nothing but goodness in them and we need to do whatever is in our means to help them."

"I cannot deal with heights — absolutely not — but as long as I don’t look down I will be fine, I just look at the view," Martinez went on to say.

Guinness World Records’ strict guidelines for the "Longest Ride On A Fair Ground / Theme Park Attraction" attempts allow a 5-minute break per hour and the contender can never fall asleep.

"Special Olympics athletes are real athletes… no endorsements… no scholarships… just pure joy to train and compete. Being in this SOSC world of athletes, parents, volunteers… it’s a bit of change from working with the crime-related activity I typically focus on day in and day out," Martinez said in a press release.