Hello all, my name’s “The Breph” and this is how I chose to raise funds for The Maiden Factor. 

I guess I should begin this by saying I’m a 21-year-old, nerdy, small-time entertainer with no marketable skills beyond possessing a twistedly inappropriate sense of humour  and having absolutely nothing interesting to say! I’m a simple fellow who never really grew out of his childhood, although never let anyone tell you that’s a bad thing; “Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional” as my mother proudly exclaims on a Thursday night, prancing around the living room with her third glass of gin in hand! All that aside, I am and always have been acutely aware of just how privileged a life I lead – and it’s that awareness that led me to discover The Maiden Factor.  

So, it began, one stream at the end of each month – approximately 20 hours of non-stop gaming split between three single days – and a message I wanted everyone to hear.

For little over a year now, I’ve been running a YouTube channel and through doing so I have been blessed to have met some of the nicest and most supporting of people. Right from day one, they’ve offered nothing but kindness and a willingness to help. It is thanks to these people that I was able to create my little community, dubbed “The Brephish Empire”, a community based around one of my foremost passions – inclusivity. As an individual diagnosed with Autism – I’ve had my fair share of being made to feel like an outcast. Which is why, when I had to upgrade my set-up in order to maintain this hobby, I decided I wanted to give back to the community at large. I decided to begin doing monthly live streams where the proceeds would all go to a selected charity of my choosing at the end of each quarter. I’m not athletic, besides a little dabble with a football here or there. I’m not creative, I have a little saying: “I’m much more autistic than artistic!”. But what I knew I COULD be, was a bloke with an audience, and a very strong message. All I needed at that point, was a direction to point said message in!

Thus began my search for a charity to represent when there I was, sat with a drink in my right hand and a half finished sandwich in the left, during the height of the first national lockdown, when something on BBC News catches my eye. Tracy Edwards MBE explaining the struggles the current world situation was impacting upon the work of a certain charity. A charity whose mission is based around something I hold dear to myself as well – inclusivity. A charity that, upon reading more into it, ignited a flame in me – this was the charity that I wanted to support – The Maiden Factor Foundation.  

What you all do changes so many lives for the better and it has truly been an honour to do what small part I could to raise funds for your cause. On behalf of all those who donated and on behalf of The Brephish Empire; thank you.

So, it began, one stream at the end of each month – approximately 20 hours of non-stop gaming split between three single days – and a message I wanted everyone to hear. However, I really did not do anything to be commended for, that recognition deserves to go to three separate groups. Firstly, my admin team; Saint, Spyro, Plonk and Jeremy. Without their time, support and constant vigilance – these streams would have descended into chaos and we would not have had anywhere near as much support as we had. Secondly, to all those who donated. Without the generosity of those people, we could not have raised the money we did. £170 was over triple my original estimate/goal and, personally, I believe that speaks testament to the third, final and in my opinion MOST important group of people; – everyone who works for The Maiden Factor. 

The work that each and every one of you do, your mission and your dedication is vital and strikes a chord with so many others, including myself. What you all do changes so many lives for the better and it has truly been an honour to do what small part I could to raise funds for your cause. On behalf of all those who donated and on behalf of The Brephish Empire; thank you. I would only ask one thing of you all if I could… 

Please, never stop.