Belfast man 'giving back' to lifesaving charity with 24-hour gaming marathon

Belfast man 'giving back' to lifesaving charity with 24-hour gaming marathon The charity livestream will be open to everyone, whether they want to watch, play games, join the conversation or support the Samaritans fundraiser 20:51, 14 Jul 2026 A queer content creator from North Belfast is set to embark on a whopping 24-hour gaming marathon to raise money for a charity close to his heart. ‌ Paul 'Bloomeroid' Bloomer will undertake the charity livestream at 8am on Friday 18 July in aid of Samaritans . Streaming live across Twitch, YouTube and TikTok, Bloomeroid will spend 24 hours playing a variety of games, chatting with viewers, and welcoming members of the public to join multiplayer games throughout the event. All donations will go directly to Samaritans through the official fundraising page. ‌ Explaining why he chose to support the charity, Paul said: "This fundraiser is incredibly personal to me. During one of the darkest periods of my life, a Samaritan was there to listen without judgement and helped me get through it. I'll never forget that kindness, and this stream is my way of giving something back so that support is there for the next person who needs it. ‌ "As a proud queer man from North Belfast , it also means a great deal to support an organisation that stands alongside LGBTQIA+ communities, takes part in Pride events across Ireland and the UK, and works to ensure everyone knows they have someone to talk to. If you enjoy gaming, I'd love you to join me, play a few games, have a chat and, if you're able, support this fantastic cause." For more than 70 years, Samaritans has provided a free, confidential, non-judgemental listening service, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for anyone struggling to cope. The charity works to reduce suicide, improve emotional wellbeing and raise awareness of mental health across the UK and Ireland. ‌ Samaritans is also an active supporter of LGBTQIA+ communities. The charity participates in Pride events across the UK and Ireland. Samaritans incorporates LGBTQ+ experiences into volunteer training, has an internal LGBTQ+ staff and volunteer network, and works with LGBTQ+ organisations to improve understanding and support for the community. The livestream is open to everyone, whether they want to watch, play games, join the conversation or support the fundraiser. How to watch live: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/bloomeroid TikTok: @Bloomeroid YouTube: @Bloomeroid Article continues below You can donate to the fundraiser here. For all the latest news, visit the homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.