It’s often hard to swallow, but working at Guide Dogs we hear shocking facts about sight loss every day. Did you know that 1 in 5 people will live with significant sight loss in their lifetime? Or that 73% of people with sight loss of working age are unemployed? Astonishing isn’t it?
One of the most impactful statistics for me though is that every day, 250 more people are told they are losing their sight in the UK. A standard-sized cinema screen has around 250 seats in it… Just imagine, if full, every one of those people being told they’re beginning to lose their sight.
This shocking statistic is the focus of our brand-new gaming and live streaming fundraiser. We want to increase awareness of the impact sight loss has and give people a new, exciting way to support us and get involved in Guide Dogs life-changing work. Our team has been working behind the scenes to create Stream250, a week-long streaming festival with the aim of raising £14,000 – enough money to support 250 guide dog partnerships for one week!
We have a star-studded line up of streamers ready to entertain. Flippa_UK, a full-time Twitch streamer, self-professed tea drinker and PC gamer, is ready to stream for us with dog, Evie, by her side! We asked her some questions about why she got involved this year.
Why are you excited about the Stream250 stream?
It is awesome to see Guide Dogs getting involved with gaming and streaming! I am excited to be able to support these incredible dogs through my streams and to spread awareness within the community. Together, our gaming and streaming communities can make a big difference for those in need.
What does raising funds for Guide Dogs mean to you?
Having had guide dogs in my family, both for support and for raising a guide dog puppy, I already know how impactful these dogs are for those in need of support. Hosting this charity stream is going to be a lot of fun knowing that I am supporting a cause close to my family and I!
What people can expect when they tune in?
My community and I love to chat and enjoy a variety of games - from FPS games to zoo simulators. But, most importantly, we love to have a good laugh! Plus, my co-star sometimes makes an appearance on dog cam - Evie the Jack Russell!
We’re also asking novice streamers to come forward and have a go for Guide Dogs! As part of the Stream250 challenge we don’t just want to see participants stream video games, we’d like people to get creative with their ideas – live dog portraits, a streamed DJ session or Zumba workout – we’re so excited to see what everyone comes up with!
Follow this link to watch a video about Stream250.
Sight loss can impact people of all ages, and this is a message we’d like to speak about as part of Stream250. We want to raise more awareness and fundraise so we can continue providing our transformative service to people with a vision impairment.
Stream250 launches on International Guide Dog day, 26 April 2023. Find out how you can get involved.
