On the run for SpecialEffect

On Sunday, 09 July 2023, I won’t be playing video games.

I’ll be dragging my butt out of bed, putting on my trainers and running through the streets of the city for the ASICS London 10K. Over 17,500 people will be doing the same, and I’ll be joining a hundred of them to show support for SpecialEffect.

This charity believes it’s everyone’s turn to play. It puts fun and inclusion back into the lives of people with physical disabilities by helping them to get involved, using technology such as modified controllers and eye-controlled software so they can play to the very best of their abilities. This not only brings families and friends together, but has a profoundly positive impact on confidence and quality of life too.

I’ve been involved with SpecialEffect since 2013 and regular readers will be aware of Later Levels’ participation in the annual GameBlast marathon. After streaming for ten days back in February and roping in Ellen from Strength in Sarcasm, Kevin from TheLawfulGeek and friend-of-the-blog Phil to do the same, our wonderful supporters helped us raise £3,023 for the organisation to assist them in continuing their amazing work.

As well as taking part in extended gaming sessions for the charity, I’ve also completed several running events. I participated in the ASICS London 10K a couple of times before COVID-19 and then joined the virtual team during the 2021 lockdown by running on my treadmill. The vibe wasn’t the same as being there among the crowd though so I’m looking forward to returning to London in a few weeks’ time – although I’m not entirely sure my legs are ready for it yet.

I wouldn’t say I’m great at running because I’m not particularly fast and can’t travel incredibly long distances. But there’s something addictive about getting into that state of mind where the only thing you’re thinking about is putting one foot in front of the other. I guess it’s a kind of meditation. While my original goal was to cross the finish line in under an hour this time, training has faltered recently due to hours I’ve had to put into my apprenticeship portfolio so I’m not as prepared as I’d like to be.

However, I’m determined to make it across the finish line. Most of my training sessions in the past month have taken the form of a 5K run so I know I’m good for at least half of the distance. I also remember the atmosphere from my previous experiences at the ASICS London 10K. There are so many people cheering you on, bands playing along the route and plenty of things to see as you’re running around London, so the positive vibe encourages you to keep moving forward.

If you’d like to donate, please head over to my JustGiving page. All donations received here will go straight to SpecialEffect and you can find out how they will be used in this overview. It’s not just about money though. Anything you can do to help spread the word about the charity is beneficial as it increases its potential to reach even more people it can assist. Sharing examples of its work on social media and cheering on everyone taking part in the ASICS London 10K is just as important.

Good luck to all the runners who’ll be there on Sunday, 09 July 2023. I’ll share an update on how it went next month and will post photographs from the event on Instagram. See you at the finish line!