Written by Amber Turner-Brightman, Photography by Kenneth Christian Agustin and Mila Donnez-Barnard
This year's Nerdvana- a 24-hour charity event organised by several dedicated societies at the university- was a great success. Over £1500 was raised for the charity Special Effect, which will be used to facilitate better inclusion in gaming and improve the lives of those with physical challenges.
People queued from 6:30pm on Friday, eager to begin the evening, and by 7pm waves of excited students had filled the Union. After an introductory speech, everyone settled in to begin their 24 hours of fun. Attendees had the options of retro and modern gaming consoles and board games in Third Space; a 24-hour E Sports stream; anime and film screenings; an incredible bake sale; and a sensory room if they needed to relax.
The latter was my favourite area, organised by Holistics and LGBT+. With so many stimulating events taking place, it could get overwhelming at times. A dimly lit room filled with plushies and sensory toys was the perfect remedy for this, with many choosing to unwind in hammocks or play card games if they wanted to take a break.
Photographed by Mila Donnez-Barnard
The evening began with a quiz, put together by all the societies involved. Groups banded together to answer questions ranging from gaming to Holistics, from queer history to anime. This was followed by a cosplay showcase, where cosplayers were invited to share their outfits with the crowd. Niko, Admin Sec of LGBT+ Society and organiser of the showcase, said that everyone looked “splendid” and that it was nice to see people “existing in cosplay” throughout the evening.
Photographed by Kenneth Christian Agustin
Those brave enough to stay awake enjoyed an eight-hour long DND game and a six-hour long Werewolf game, both of which were intense enough to carry players through the night. Others took part in karaoke, where stars were born.
The next morning began with yoga and a return to the bake sale, organised by Riley, the President of Cooking and Baking Society. She said “business was booming” and although she initially worried she had made too many treats, the stand almost sold out and made over £150.
Photographed by Kenneth Christian Agustin
Saturday’s main event was the Mario Kart tournament, where sixteen contenders took on Mute City and Cloudtop Cruise, hoping for triumph. Finalists battled on Rainbow Road, a tense race which saw a Rosalina achieve victory.
After a second full day, people attended the outro, where photos were shared and acknowledgements were made. Those who had stayed for the full event headed home for a well-earned evening of rest, while organisers reflected on the last 24 hours.
Louis, President of Gaming Society, said that although he was exhausted, he thought the event had gone well and that everyone had had a good time. Jack, President of LGBT+ agreed that it had been a “pretty fantastic time” with an enormous range of entertainment and welcoming staff and attendees.
In between all the action, it was uplifting to see people spending time together and friendships being forged. Not often do we get the opportunity to step away from our lives entirely for 24 hours, but it was lovely to do so in the company of likeminded people, in the name of charity.
Watch this space for information on the next Nerdvana, taking place next term!
About the Contributors: Amber Turner-Brightman (they/them)
Hi, I'm Amber, co-EIC! I'm an MA Journalism student with an undergraduate degree in Politics and International Relations. I'm particularly interested in current affairs and societal trends.
Mila Donnez-Barnard
Find Mila on Instagram here!
Kenneth Christian Agustin
Hi! I'm Kenneth, a UoP Alumni that graduated in 2019. I'm an Amateur Photographer that works as a Radiographer, so really I'm all about those poses and pictures!
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