Gamers gear up to raise money for children’s hospital

If you ever needed an excuse to play video games, Saturday, Nov. 2, is your day as gamers worldwide celebrate Game Day, a fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals that benefits Marshfield Children’s Hospital patients.

Extra Life is a fundraising program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Raising funds for local member hospitals to fund critical life-saving treatments and health care services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, and child life services. Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised over $120 million to Change Kids’ Health to Change the Future.

Game Day is Extra Life’s biggest fundraising day of the year. Saturday is the day when all Extra Lifers are called upon to fundraise – to help kids in your community. When fundraising dollars are combined with the rest of the Extra Life community, Extra Life can help 12 million kids every year receive the treatment they need.

Whether its digitally or at home, thousands of gamers – including some in central Wisconsin – will hop online for 25 hours of nonstop gaming with all proceeds going to the Children’s Hospital of the streamer’s choice. Last year, gamers in and around Wisconsin raised over $9,000 for kids at the Marshfield Children’s Hospital, and this year they’re hoping to go even further than that.

“Game Day is an opportunity for people to enjoy time with family, friends, and fellow gamers – both ones you know and some you just met – in the name of helping children in their greatest time of need,” said Mason Dowling, program officer for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Marshfield Clinic. “Whether you play for a couple hours or a marathon, all-day session, your videogaming hobby can truly benefit other people on Game Day.”