Mencap has launched a digital version of its spelling competition enabling contestants to take part online and raise money for the charity by collecting online sponsorship.

The charity has been running its Spellathon programme for almost 20 years and this year engaged Digital Giving Ltd to develop an online version with Stephen Fry voicing the Professor character. Participants can also use smartphones to take part by downloading the app from the Apple, Android or Blackberry app stores.

There are different levels for school children, colleges, universities and individuals of all ages and Mencap has said that educational establishments will receive 25 per cent of the money raised by its participants.

When an individual signs up, a Justgiving fundraising page is automatically created for them. For each £3 raised through JustGiving a ‘Spelling Bee’ and word pack is unlocked for participants to play in the spelling games.

The actual competition will take place online between 21 May and 27 May when participants will have one opportunity to record a run of correctly spelt words in 15 minutes. Scores will be recorded and the global leaderboard will be announced in June.

In June participants who have raised more than £15 by the 27 May and spelt 25 words correctly can compete against Stephen Fry in the reverse Spellathon Challenge.

Fry said: “This is just about the best integration of imagination, education, technology inclusiveness and fung that I’ve ever encountered.”

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