Gaming marathon in support of local mental health charity to take place this weekend

To celebrate their first birthday, Oakham Board Game and Roleplaying Club will be hosting a fundraiser - and you are invited to join the fun!

A group of local gamers will be putting their skills to the test this weekend in support of Pepper's- A Safe Space.

Pepper's is a mental health charity with hubs in Oakham and Melton Mowbray. They run friendly and welcoming drop-in sessions and wellbeing activities for any adults who may be struggling with their mental health.

All adults are welcome to join the Pepper's community and take a break, socialise, combat isolation, have fun and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.

Development Manager, Pippa Gorman, said: "Loneliness is something that I'm sure we have all struggled with, especially throughout the pandemic. But many live with it everyday. We want to bring the community together, with a shared, safe and welcoming space for all, to chat, socialise, have fun and be less alone."

This summer, a gaming group who meet at the Oakham hub will be hosting a gaming marathon to raise money to support the hard work of Pippa and the team.

On Saturday 5 August 2023, the gaming group will be welcoming members of the community to swing by and find out more about what they do, as well as holding a raffle - all while taking part in their 24-hour gaming quest!

The group meet all year round and welcome new members. Image credit: Oakham Board Game and Roleplaying Club

There will be no entry fees, but attendees are welcome to donate and join the raffle, with some top prizes up for grabs.

These include:

a guitar bundle kindly donated by Moonflower Guitars
6 weeks of physio-led pilates classes
a £20 voucher for Gates Garden Centre
a £20 voucher for Quirky Bird
£10 to spend in store at QD
a £10 E R Dance academy voucher
£5 to spend on sweets at Warners, and a Tangy Mix bag
PRIME hydration bundle
a bottle of red wine from Oakham Wines
a bottle of rosé wine from One Stop Barleythorpe
VIP complimentary coffee passes from Caffe Nero
a potted plant from Pollen
chocolates from Walkers Books
...and other items, including electronics and games donated by Oakham Board Game and Roleplaying Club and members of the public

This one-off event will take place from 9am until 5pm at Pepper's on Oakham High Street, and the raffle will be drawn on the day at 4pm.

All are welcome. Image credit: Oakham Board Game and Roleplaying Club

Raffle tickets cost £1 each and can be purchased in person at the August open day or by sending a text of WhatsApp message, including your full name and number of tickets you would like to buy, to 07999 120111.

The team encourage novices and keen gamers to come along to the event, adding: "Our experienced members will be on hand to lead, teach or advise on the multitude of games that are available to play, everything from Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) to Uno!

"There is sure to be something for everyone, and there will be plenty of space at the tables to drop in throughout the day.

"Whether you're completely new to gaming, or an avid gamer, you are sure to feel welcomed and have a great time."

Snacks and refreshments will also be readily available at the community-led event.

A varitey of games will be available to try out on the day - as well as snacks! Image credit: Oakham Board Game and Roleplaying Club

If you don't want to play, then please do pop by and support the team, who will be kicking-off their gaming marathon at 7:30pm on Friday 4, and finishing at 7:30pm on Saturday 5 August!

The team look forward to meeting you, and would encourage residents to donate if possible. They appreciate that times are hard, so any donations, no matter how small, will be incredibly welcome.

Please show your support and donate towards their endeavour by clicking this link.

Alternatively, you can text or WhatsApp your full name and amount you would like to donate to 07999 120111. The team will then reply back with the bank account details to transfer the payment across.

They concluded: "We would like to say a big thank you to the wonderful businesses who have shown their support in this fundraising campaign.

"We look forward to meeting you on 5 August."