Video games might be fun, but they’re not only a form of entertainment.
They can bring us together, allow us to experience the world through another’s eyes, and open us to new ways of thinking. Several charities which believe in this too, and I’m proud to support a particular organisation through volunteering and live streams
SpecialEffect is a UK-based charity which aims to put fun and inclusion back in the lives of people with physical disabilities by helping them to play video games. Using technology ranging from modified joypads to eye-control software, they find a way for everyone to play to the very best of their abilities. This isn’t just done for enjoyment though: by levelling the playing field, they’re bringing families and friends together and having a profoundly positive impact on quality of life.
I’ve supported SpecialEffect since meeting the team at the EGX expo in September 2013. Seeing examples of their amazing work inspired me to sign up for the first ever GameBlast streaming marathon in February 2014. Shortly afterward, I decided to become a volunteer for the charity and I’ve continued doing so for eight years now. Contributing to such a wonderful cause gives me a real boost, and volunteering is a great reminder that I can manage large social situations despite feeling anxious.
Another way I support the organisation is by participating in the ASICS London 10K. The event takes place in July each year and sees thousands of attendees running through the iconic sights of the city while live bands and supportive spectators cheer them on. I’m not the best runner and will never be particularly fast, but I’ve always enjoyed taking part in this event due to its upbeat atmosphere and the many people running to support their favorite charities.
After managing to persuade friend-of-the-blog Phil to sign up and train with me for the 2020 event, it was sadly cancelled due to the COVID-19 lockdown. We both understood that this decision was necessary to keep everybody safe but couldn’t hide our disappointment after six months of consistent effort. It was therefore exciting to hear that the race would be returning this year, with 180 SpecialEffect supporters pulling on their trainers for the event on 25 July 2021. I was very happy to be able to count myself among them.
Although I could have travelled into London and participated in person, I didn’t feel quite ready for such a large-scale event after spending the past 18-months in lockdown. Restrictions may have now been eased here in the UK but I’d rather take a cautious approach; and on top of this, engineering works would have meant an incredibly long train journey with only one person allowed to accompany me. I therefore opted to be a part of the virtual team and instead complete the distance in my local area.
However, completing the race on my own was a challenge. The atmosphere is the best thing about being at the London 10K in person and you can’t recreate that on a treadmill. When you’re there, you get swept along in the crowd and spectators; and flowing with the other runners makes you forget about your tired legs and sore feet. The organisers also put massive spray machines along the route so you can run through the mist, which feels amazing – Pete squirting me with a water bottle wasn’t the same, although it was appreciated.
I managed to complete 13.13K in 01:35 hours, the extra distance accounting for a walking warm-up and extremely long cool-down. As mentioned above, I’m never going to be a fast runner and there’s no way I’m going to manage the 29:25 minutes achieved by winner Andrew Heyes. However, I don’t think this was a bad time for me and I’m satisfied with it. My goal has always been to complete the 10K in under an hour but I think that’s going to be tough for me on a treadmill.
I’d love to be able to participate in the ASICS London 10K in future years so I’ll be signing up with SpecialEffect again. Keep your eyes peeled for the GameBlast tag for news on what we’ve got planned for the next marathon stream in February 2022 coming soon.