Graham takes on Game 2 Cure

Game 2 Cure is the ultimate gaming challenge for charity, where the challenge is to continuously game for 12 hours, in recognition of the 12 children and young people who are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK.

Graham decided to take on Game 2 Cure for his birthday weekend, and invited family, friends and workmates to donate and watch along on Twitch. He initially set himself a £350 fundraising target, but quickly surpassed that. At the end of his 12 hour challenge he’d ended up raising an amazing £633. We caught up with Graham to find out why he decided on Game 2 Cure, and how he found his challenge.

What made you choose to take on Game 2 Cure?

 The idea of Game 2 Cure really appealed to my inner gamer! From a young age, I’ve gotten a lot of joy from playing video games. It started with my Dad’s Atari 2600, before we eventually got a Commodore 64 and then an Amiga – I have so many great memories associated with those classic machines. These days I’m most likely to load up my PlayStation, when time allows between work and parenting duties.

When I came across Game 2 Cure, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to raise money for an amazing cause. I was blown away by the generosity people showed, both in terms of their donations and their time – a handful of friends lasted the whole night, cheering me on via Twitch comments.

Why did you decide to fundraise for Children with Cancer UK?

It was important for me to raise money for Children with Cancer UK because the charity does such vital work, filling a particular need for research and support related to childhood cancers. I had read that the charity, like many others, had seen funding drop during the pandemic. So I wanted to do something small to contribute.

Having previously worked for many years for a cancer charity, I feel very connected to the cause. I also have personal experience of losing a close friend to cancer too young. All of us are affected by cancer in some way and organisations like Children with Cancer UK deserve all the support we can give them.

How did you find the challenge?

The challenge was so much fun. I began at 9pm on a Friday and played through until 9am the next morning. I made sure to take regular comfort breaks, with drinks and snacks to hand. It was the first time I’d streamed myself playing on Twitch, and I loved seeing my friends and family’s comments pop up as I played. Sekiro lived up to its reputation as a brutally difficult game, but that made it particularly satisfying when I cleared a difficult area of the game to celebratory comments on my feed. I was obviously really tired by the next morning but still buzzing, and I made sure to catch up on sleep over the rest of the weekend.

What would you say to anyone else who are considering taking on a fundraising challenge?

For anyone else thinking of taking on Game 2 Cure, I would heartily recommend it! Children with Cancer UK provide great support throughout, including fundraising graphics you can share on social media. It’s a chance to raise money for an incredible cause, while having a lot of fun and sharing the experience with your friends and family. And because it’s a bit different from the more common kinds of sporty fundraisers that people complete, you’ll probably find that your event really piques people’s interest. Just make sure to pick a good game, pick the right time of day for you, promote it through social media, and sit back and enjoy when taking on the challenge!

If you’re interested in finding out more about Game 2 Cure, and set up your very own gaming marathon, click here to find out more.