Captain Chemo

Just who is Captain Chemo? He is a hero conjured up from the imagination of Ben de Garis, who sadly lost his life to Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the tender age of 18 years. Ben wanted a way for the message about cancer to reach youngsters and initially Captain Chemo's adventures originally surfaced in booklet form. Ben drew the comic strip during his radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. However, the brainchild of Ben has taken the next step and become a computer game!

The Royal Marsden Hospital has established a website and with the help of Gameplay's multimedia division, doUno.com has created an online computer game which is both entertaining and educational. The Royal Marsden states that the game is primarily aimed at cancer patients, relatives and friends in order to easily communicate an explanation about the disease and the treatments available. However, for anyone who wishes to learn a little as they play, the game is well worth a look at www.royalmarsden.org.uk/captchemo

The player helps Captain Chemo and Chemo Command in their quest to eradicate cancer. Questions must be answered and answers sometimes hunted out so that the player can gain points.

There is also plenty of action as the player commands the chemo craft and shoots and destroys tumors. There is even an element of star power as actor Shaun Scott, whom British television viewers will recognize as DI Deacon in TV series 'The Bill' provides the voice for Captain Chemo.

Captain Chemo has already established himself as a hero amongst brave, young cancer patients at the Royal Marsden Hospital as they themselves fight their own battles. Hopefully children suffering from cancer around the world will eventually be able to join in his quest.