Annually, computing science student Cammy Kane, puts on an in-person event packed with challenges and fun activities for her friends to complete.
“So the event is kind of less of a set thing and more of a concept.
Essentially it's a big get together where we make our friends run around Glasgow and do challenges, film skits, solve puzzles.
We set up a whole day and there's some way to win.
usually by doing challenges the fastest or by doing as many as you can or doing them in the most creative and fun ways possible.”
Following the success of the first event amongst her close friends in 2022, the event has seen consistent development to its structure and inspirations.
“...it was definitely initially inspired by Mr Beast and sort of challenge content like that.
Since then, we've taken inspiration from Taskmaster, from probably some of the Sidemen challenges, ARGs, especially like Cicada 3301, and sort of like the more puzzle-like, technical assets of the internet.”
@CammyK16 on Youtube - CTON3301 Trailer
The first of the 5 events. The name is a parody of the popular internet ARG, Cicada 3301.
The magnitude of the event has also increased.
The adaptation and integration into university life has allowed Cammy to make more friends, thus opening this experience to a wider number of people.
The quality of these events has also granted Cammy’s work a certain allure, being anticipated by previous and future contestants in these events.
“Now given the recap videos, word of mouth, and the stuff that we post online both on YouTube and the web, people have reached out to me rather than me reaching out to them to take part in this year's event.
So what started as 16 people running around the south side of Glasgow is going to potentially turn into 150 people competing all across the city in this year's event, 'THE KANE'.”
"I've only ever lost money..."
Cammy’s reach into many groups and sub-cultures within the city introduces a level of monetary value, However she rejects this route, stating she's only ever lost money on these events - it's a passion project; not a business.
“I have said from the very beginning that I didn't ever plan to make money off of this.
In fact, the first year I put up £100 of my own money as part of the prize pool.
But I do think the event has been a sort of massive creative sinkhole for me where I'm able to develop new skills.”
Her commitment to these events has driven her to operate in fields she wasn't as familiar with, opening doors to develop a multitude of skills and trades.
“ I have improved graphic design skills, web development skills, video editing skills, cinematography, photography, events planning, management, admin.
SOURCE: https://cammyk.co.uk/event5
The announcement poster for this years event. "THE KANE"
I've learned so many skills running this that definitely would look fantastic on a CV, and it lets me make connections.”
Unfortunately, the growing scale of the annual event has proven to be a problem for Cammy, stating, “...I basically lose my summer each year doing it.”
She suggests her ambition to make the event “bigger and better” every year is the reason for this added stress.
This is the last event.
There is no blame for this placed on the participant here, Cammy clearly takes responsibility, ”Even if it stayed the same, I'm sure people would still show up for it, but that's just that sort of self-drive I have.”
The work done to ensure the operational security of the event takes months, with Cammy at the forefront of all aspects of development.
As she enters her final year of her masters degree, Cammy has retired from this yearly trend, making this year’s event her last.
“...because of the magnitude of the events, I've fallen behind on making the recap videos and that's been looming over me.
Planning the events takes longer because we've got more ideas.
It really is a massive source of anxiety for me.
I don't really talk about it much and it's why I'm sort of making this my final year doing it.“
The pressure of holding this event is not an easy burden to , with each year standing as a bar to raise one step higher.
@CammyK16 on Youtube - CammyK's BBL
The very beginning of the 3rd years event. CammyK's Big Bucket List (BBL)
Despite the impacts on her personally, Cammy details, ”the positives definitely outweigh the negatives, but there's a lot of self-sacrifice in terms of both my time and my mental health.
But it's for the good of the people, and also this year it's for charity.”
She continues, “But also, you know, there is a sort of self-fulfilment.
That when we're out with friends or when I talk to people, they will bring up fun things I have done for years and years to come.
It's a core memory for everyone that took part.”
Follow CammyK on social media her YouTube, Instagram, and Website