22 year-old Burnley man Vizeh completed an intense 30 day superhero-inspired challenge in memory of his mum.
The UK FIFA YouTuber – who has 250,000 subscribers on YouTube – raised much-needed funds for the MS Society.
The challenge saw Vizeh, real name Liam Waddington, push himself to his physical limits by completing 100 sit ups, 100 push ups, 100 squats and a 10km run every single day for a month.
The gruelling workout is based on a popular Japanese superhero show called One Punch Man, where the main character achieves superhuman strength by taking on the same routine.
Vizeh, whose mum lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) during his childhood, turned to YouTube as a coping mechanism after her passing in 2013. He started uploading hugely popular gaming videos about FIFA, and now has almost a quarter of a million subscribers on the platform.
In addition to his gaming content, Vizeh uses his platform to raise awareness about MS, which affects over 130,000 people in the UK. The condition damages nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think.
Prior to this challenge, the YouTube star has already raised over £15,000 for MS Society, which provides support for people living with MS and drive research into better treatments.
“I started YouTube as a coping mechanism to deal with my loss, but I never dreamed it would become what it is! Now I have this platform, I want to do everything I can to ensure that others don’t have to go through what my mum went through.”
Liam ‘Vizeh’ Waddington
Over the past three years, he’s undertaken extreme online endurance challenges, including a 50-hour livestream on YouTube which saw him do everything from eating the infamously hot Ghost Chilli to shaving his head.
This year, Vizeh wanted to push himself to a new level by taking on a fitness endurance challenge.
Vizeh said: “This is the toughest challenge I’ve ever taken on, but I feel amazing for sticking with it and not giving up! Through the process I’ve learnt so much about myself, how to live and know how truly strong I am.
“My mum was diagnosed with MS before I was born, and it impacted her life hugely. Throughout my childhood I watched my mum slowly get weaker day by day, and many times I came home from primary school to find her suffering on the floor unable to get up, and there was nothing I could do to help.
“I started YouTube as a coping mechanism to deal with my loss, but I never dreamed it would become what it is! Now I have this platform, I want to do everything I can to ensure that others don’t have to go through what my mum went through.”
Martin Mears, head of community and events at the MS Society, added: “Vizeh is a superhero for completing this challenge! Over the past few years he’s taken on one gruelling test after another, and this latest achievement is a real testament to his strength, determination and passion for supporting people with MS.
“We believe we can stop MS, and by using his platform to fundraise and raise awareness, Vizeh is helping us get closer to our goal – and we cannot thank him enough.”
To support Vizeh’s One Punch Man fundraiser, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vizeh30dayopm, and to find out more about MS Society’s work, visit www.mssociety.org.uk
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
