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A Caerphilly-based business start-up hub has raised more than £2,200 for charity by holding a 121-hour gameathon.

The Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (Welsh ICE) took part in the End Youth Homelessness Gaming for Good Festival, choosing to raise funds for homelessness charity Llamau.

The gameathon saw 17 Welsh ICE members take it in turns to play video games for a total of 121-consecutive hours, with their efforts streamed live on Twitch.

The event included three 24-hour single person gaming sessions, as well as a full-day relay event – where gamers gave up a few hours of their time before passing the virtual baton to the next gamer to keep the challenge going.

The gameathon saw a successful world record Super Mario speed run challenge, as well as a 24-hour Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

ICE’s Huw Williams, who helped organise the event, said: “We set an initial fundraising target of £605, which we felt would challenge us but also be achievable – but we were blown away with the response, and ended up raising more than three times that.

“Obviously, gaming for long periods of time isn’t the same as running a marathon or climbing a mountain – although after 24 hours I could have done with an energy bar – but games really have the ability to capture a community’s attention.

“We streamed live on Twitch, and so many of our sessions were interactive, with viewers setting challenges and donating – you just don’t get that involvement with a lot of other fundraising activities.

“We’re really proud of everyone who took part and are incredibly grateful to those who donated. We know that the issue of homelessnes doesn’t get solved through a few gaming sessions, but the difference the vital funds make to individuals is enormous.”

Huw added: “Everyone is facing a tough time at the moment, which is why it’s so important that charities such as Llamau and their UK counterparts are supported – so that they can continue to make a positive difference to people’s lives.”

Natasha Gue, Fundraising Events Officer at Llamau, praised Welsh ICE for its efforts and said: “This was the first year we have run this event, with the pandemic forcing us into a virtual world of fundraising.

“We were blown away by the creativity, generosity and passion shown by everyone who took part. 

“Watching all of the streams was definitely a perk of my job during the festival, with Huw being challenged to wear a basket on his head being a particular personal highlight.

“The £2,232 raised by the Welsh ICE team will make such a difference to young people and women here in Wales experiencing the unimaginable, whilst also contributing to the overall total of over £27,000 raised.”

She added: “The event was such a success that we are planning on running it again next year and are looking forward to seeing all of the creative challenges companies and individuals come up with to help make a world without homelessness a reality- and Welsh ICE have certainly set the bar high.”

Caerphilly Observer is a member of Welsh ICE and is based at its campus on Caerphilly Business Park.