AVID gamers are being invited to hone their gaming skills while raising vital funds for Julia’s House.

The Julia’s House Gameathon is returning for half -term to raise money for vulnerable local children and their families.

To take part on October 24 and 25, simply set the duration of your gaming challenge, create a fundraising page with JustGiving and share details of your challenge with friends and family.

And play your favourite games while you fundraise for the children’s hospice charity in Wiltshire and Dorset.

Online games have been helping children with life-limiting conditions.

While the country was locked down, gaming offered many people stay connected with friends and family, and for a child with a serious health condition - gaming offers a way to escape their limitations.

Andrew Orman and Ashley Dickinson, Senior Carers at Julia’s House, said: “We game with a lot of the children - Fortnite and Rocket League are two of their favourites, the older kids like to play FIFA.”

Ashley said: “Andrew and I try to compete against them but we’re not the best!

“I enjoy Minecraft - it’s nice to see a finished building that you’ve made with them. At the moment we’ve got a little Minecraft world that we’ve created and they’re all building their own little houses.”

“Gaming provides a gateway for the children to communicate with their friends. A lot of them can’t go out and play football or take part in standard sport.”

Andrew added: “For a lot of the children, gaming is where they’re just as equal as anyone else.”

W: juliashouse.org/Gameathon