Families, individuals and game groups are all helping sick and injured children who are treated at T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital at Erlanger on Saturday, Nov. 2. Extra Life, a fundraising phenomenon helping Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across North America, adds a life-saving purpose to playing video, board and lawn game, officials said.
Extra Life was created by Jeromy 'Doc' Adams in 2008 to honor the late Tori Enmon, a 15-year-old Children's Miracle Network Hospital patient who played video games during her battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In 2012, Extra Life participants reached a fundraising milestone, with thousands of gamers raising more than $2.1 million directly benefiting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the United States and Canada.
Gamers can register for free at www.extra-life.org and select Children's Hospital at Erlanger. Once a fundraising account and goal is established, participants ask their friends and family to support their "game day" on Nov. 2.
“All funds raised through Extra Life by area gamers will stay local to support the ongoing renovation of our inpatient rooms so that we can provide the best possible care in a family centered environment,” said Rebecca Brinkley, Children’s Hospital Foundation and CMN Hospitals representative. “Extra Life will even provide modifiable email templates, social media prompts and other digital resources to promote gamers’ fundraising efforts.”
To encourage the power of group fundraising this year, gaming communities who raise the most collective funds can win up to $60,000 for their local hospital.
"Every year since 2008, the gaming community has increasingly embraced Extra Life as a way to give back locally for the love of gaming," says Jeromy 'Doc' Adams, Extra Life founder and program director. "Gaming companies and media outlets have taken notice of this charged fundraising force, and we're gearing up to have our best fundraising year yet. Local gamers are the reason this program has taken off and raised millions for hospitals needing help."
Extra Life lets gamers play what they want and raise funds as a group, in a common location or from the comfort of their own homes. Gamers do not have to play all day long; Extra Life is customizable to one's gaming capacity, and healthy gaming should be considered top priority. More information can be found below in the "Safe Gaming" section.
To learn more and to register for this year's Extra Life gaming event, visit www.extra-life.org, Like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/extralife4kids or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/extralife4kids.