'Escapist entertainment that encourages players to retreat from the real world.' For decades gaming was often derided or minimalised with language such as this in favour of more 'worthy' pastimes, but in recent years communities have come together to show that the hobby has powerful potential as an outlet for the marginalised, disabled and other in-need groups alongside and as members of its core audience.
Set up as a registered Communities Interest Company (CIC) in 2019, Gamers Beat Cancer is an organisation that supports the mental health of cancer patients as they undergo the often arduous process of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. It's the brainchild of Steven Bracewell, born out of his ongoing battle with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
The Gamers Beat Cancer team embraces the tenet that the power of gaming can aid the healing process and cultivate social bonds often frayed by the trauma of illness. The benefits of playing computer games and using technology enable the creation of new shared experiences that can help enrich the lives of others.
GBC support people of all ages, all backgrounds, and all types of cancer to manage the mental health issues that come with living with disease, and as part of wider community efforts also offer support to critical people in their lives such as caregivers and families. The team ensures that this community is given the tools they need to play, learn and heal with "The Gift Of Gaming".
As part of a partnership with GBC, and just in time for the holidays, UK system integrator CyberpowerPC have created a new pre-configured gaming system with some of the proceeds going direct to the cause. And if you're in a hurry, the Infinity GBC Next Day PC can be shipped within 24hrs and with you in time for Christmas.
The holidays and the subsequent new year are almost upon us, and many will be contemplating starting the year with a major refresh of their home gaming setup. For some it will be a new component or two, but those with a larger budget may consider an entirely brand new system. After all, system integrators have a pretty good chance of stocking graphics cards even in today's market.
The Infinity GBC is equipped with some exceptional gear including the latest Intel 12th Generation "Alder Lake" Core i7-12700K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics and a 1TB Intel NVMe SSD. It's housed within the imposing Cooler Master H500M case, and finished off with RGB lighting on fans throughout.
For more information on the system visit the product page. If you'd like to learn more about Gamers Beat Cancer or make a direct contribution to their work visit https://gamersbeatcancer.co.uk/.
