Eric Taviner from Skewen, Neath Port Albot is holding a 24-hour sponsored gameathon playing video games to raise money and awareness of diabetes.
The gameathon (a gaming marathon) will be livestreamed on Twitch from lunchtime on Saturday 27 March. Eric started the challenge three years ago and it has been attracting more viewers and donations every time. This year it will be "bigger and better", he promises.
Eric, who works as a NHS ICT officer, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 16. He shared this condition with his mother Janette, who died in 2019.
He said: "I am more motivated than ever to raise more money for Diabetes UK in memory of my mum, who I want to honour and miss very much"
"I’ll be live on my Twitch channel from about lunchtime on Saturday all the way through to lunchtime on Sunday! My advice for anyone thinking of doing the same would be to check your blood sugars regularly, keep hydrated and make sure you eat some good food during those lengthy gaming sessions!
"Be sure to take regular breaks from the screen to give your eyes a break and to stretch out those limbs. Make sure you get friends involved to keep you company during the early hours of the morning and be sure to just have fun!"
Eric has always been into computer games, but has also become interested in fitness during the lockdowns. "It’s been a tough old slog but it’s given me time to reflect on a lot of things and make some vital changes, one being my fitness. I have recently started running in order to get back stamina and lose a bit of weight I’ve gained since last year", he said.
You can watch Eric's livestream on Twitch, and can donate to Eric on his JustGiving page.
