In this month of Remembrance, Help for Heroes is urging gamers to put their skills to good use.
Army veteran Paul Colling, who has been supported by Help for Heroes in his recovery, served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but lost the life and the job he loved after a traumatic leg injury during a training exercise left him in near-constant pain.
Paul found a comfort in gaming during his recovery and decided to give back by raising almost £10,000 for the Charity by doing gaming fundraisers.
The Charity’s 11:11 challenge sets out to honour our heroes throughout November by gaming for 11 hours and 11 minutes.
Challenge takers are being asked to exchange game play for donations and raise money for our Armed Forces community.
“Gaming has a positive effect all round for me. It takes my mind off the pain a little. I can’t remember what it feels like to be pain free and that can really wear you down at times almost to the breaking point. Playing games gives you a little bit of focus, when you can’t get about it can keep your mind actively busy.”
Paul Colling, Army veteran
The 11:11 challenge is part of the Charity’s Hero Up programme, working with gamers to support those who have served our country, now living with physical and mental health struggles, to live well.
Beyond November, gamers can opt to get involved in planned Help for Heroes challenges or set their own throughout the year.
Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service. The charity helps them, and their families, to recover and get on with their lives. It has supported more than 27,000 people and aims to help every veteran get the support they deserve.
Find out more about the 11:11 challenge and sign up at heroupchallenges.helpforheroes.org.uk. Help for Heroes relies on the spirit and generosity of the great British public, and is actively recruiting new volunteers.
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.
