Every year over a thousand people gather in Leicester for the anime league convention (Alcon), and every year the organisers of Alcon make use of having such a large audience to raise money for worthy causes. Money is raised through a mixture of events, such as the cosplay auction in which people bid on attendees in cosplay (this alone raised around £600 this year), the charity gala, or by having one of the hosts dance gangnam style.

This year Alcon managed to beat last year’s intake of £4,200, with an impressive new record of £5,420. Head of stage Alex Baker celebrated the record intake by having his legs shaved on stage, while singing the hit Disney song Be a Man.

It could be argued that it is this attitude that gives the people behind Alcon their success in raising funds. Everyone at the convention was having a good time and this was reflected in the amounts that were being donated. Over the course of the past ten years, Alcon has become a strong community, and it is a community more than willing to offer its support.

Alcon raises money for a different charity every year. This year the money that Alcon raised was in aid of Epilepsy Action, the leading epilepsy organisation in the UK. Epilepsy Action not only provides information and advice to people living with epilepsy, it also campaigns for better healthcare services to be available to them. Alcon‘s choice of charity this year was a poignant one as Rebecca Moriarty (Alcon‘s head of press), tragically passed away earlier this year after having an epileptic seizure.

Here at STARBURST we would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to everyone who took part in fundraising this year and to the dedicated crew of Alcon. It is a great thing that you have done, and you should all be very proud of yourselves.

Those wishing to learn more about epilepsy action or donate themselves can find further information at www.epilepsy.org.uk.