Cartoon Network has teamed up with the UK's leading learning disability charity Mencap to teach children to spell as part of the charity's annual spelling competition, Spellathon.

By recruiting Ben 10 to back the competition, Mencap is hoping to motivate children to take part in Spellathon to improve their spelling. Successful schools will receive a visit from one of Ben's alien superheroes as a reward for their good work.

"We're delighted to be working with Mencap helping to promote Spellathon with one of our top characters," said Nick Hart, head of corporate social responsibility at Turner Broadcasting. "Ben's popularity with young kids is a great way to engage them to learn about words, whilst getting the chance to raise money for people with a learning disability."

Now in its 15th year, Spellathon is aimed at students aged four to 13. Pupils are sponsored per word and every word spelt correctly raises money for Mencap and people with a learning disability.

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