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Press release:
Joe, a young man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is looking forward to powering through a sponsored 12-hour video gaming marathon as part of SpecialEffect’s GameBlast19 fundraising event this weekend, despite his very limited physical abilities.

Although he can’t use a standard games controller or keyboard, he can still enjoy the excitement and inclusion of video games because of a customised controller setup put together by the charity.

Joe’s one of hundreds of video gamers across the UK and beyond who are uniting to play games this weekend – to help people that can’t.

They’ll be playing as part of GameBlast19, the UK’s largest charity gaming marathon weekend.

It’s a festival of sponsored gaming marathons and events taking place in a multitude of bedrooms, lounges, village halls, colleges, studios and boardrooms, all with the aim of raising £100,000 to help SpecialEffect transform the lives of more gamers like Joe.

“I’m playing because I know what a big difference SpecialEffect make to young disabled people’s lives,” said Joe.

“I was finding it very difficult to use my computer because of my disability so they came to assess what specialised equipment I needed. They managed to get me playing games again.”

“Everyone’s GameBlast19 challenge will help SpecialEffect find new ways for people with disabilities to play – the expertise, assessments, equipment and lifelong support that brings joy, self-confidence and a degree of independence into the lives of hundreds of people.”

“It’s life-changing, and my way of giving something back.”

Joe will be gaming on Friday 22 February and you can sponsor him at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Joe-Kemp2before, during and after his challenge.

GameBlast19 runs from Friday to Sunday, and Joe will be joined by some big names in the games industry.

Teams from event partners GAME (https://www.gameblast19.org.uk/2019/02/21/game-stream-details/) and SEGA Europe will be running 24-hour livestreams from their headquarters, and GAME stores across the country will be holding a huge range of fundraising activities.

Hundreds of individuals and gaming communities will be pitching in too, including Team Clocked, Zeldathon, Team NGB, Ultimate Pro Gaming and the National Student Esports.

A taxi company local to SpecialEffect will be holding a games day, and many individual gamers are promising beard shaves, leg waxing and hair dyeing as stream forfeits. One gamer will even be taking on a marathon on a walking machine while playing games.

“It’s the best excuse to game ever,” said Tom Donegan, the charity’s Events Organiser.

“GameBlast is an opportunity for people to do what they love best and level the playing field for people of all ages with a huge range of physical disabilities at the same time.”

Details and a donation link for GameBlast19 can be found at https://www.gameblast19.org.uk and you can keep up with the action on Twitter @gameblast or by searching for the gameblast tag on Twitch.

SpecialEffect is an award-winning charity that helps people with disabilities to benefit from the fun, rehabilitation and therapy of video games. They support people of all ages through assessments, equipment loans and equipment modifications.

Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround