Playing Video Games to Cure Cancer
Players sharpen their skills during an E-sports club meeting. @paxonesports
It is 3 a.m. You’re not up studying for an exam or doing homework; you’re up raising money for charity. That’s what the E-sports club does every year over winter break when they stream themselves playing video games for 24 hours straight. They raise money for a charity called Extra Life.
Extra Life is a Children's Miracle Network Hospital program that has raised over $100 million since 2008. Extra Life is a charity that helps with research to end cancer and other major diseases. But they also use their money to put game consoles in hospitals so people who must be in the hospitals for long periods of time can have things to do while they wait.
Extra Life was formed in honor of Victoria Enmon who died of leukemia. She was sent gifts of video games; this led to the idea of Extra Life. After 14 years, the club has grown to over 50,000 participants a year and is partnered with platforms like Twitch.
Every year members of the E-sports club raise money for this charity. In 2021 they broke their record with $1,759 in donations. This year the club is planning to play from the morning of Dec. 21 to the morning of Dec. 22. They are hoping to break their record from last year and hit $2000 in donations.
Members of the club enjoy being able to combine one of their hobbies with charity. Sophomore Luke Taylor is a member of the club.
“I do it because it is fun and you’re raising money for a good cause,” Taylor said.
