Local gamers raise $23,394 for Alberta Children’s Hospital
#dominicstrong’s annual 25-hour games marathon occurred Saturday at Beveridge Landmark Events.
The event, a fundraiser for Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, allowed Hatters the opportunity to play board and video games all day and night.
Sean Rooney, the local event’s co-founder, said the event is part of Extra Life, a charity that has people across the U.S. and Canada hold game marathons to raise money for their nearest children’s hospital.
“It sort of takes shape in different ways,” he said. “Some people just sit in their basement and play one game for 25 hours.
“This is the other extreme, where you get as many people in the public out (with) lots of gaming systems, lots of board games and we just have fun with it.”
In total, #dominicstrong raised $23,394 this year, ranking 25th overall out of more than 5,000 teams in the U.S. and Canada.
Rooney began participating in Extra Life after his son Dominic, who passed away, was diagnosed with leukemia at 11 months old.
He said that a game marathon appealed to him as a fundraiser because it’s so unique.
“This is a radically different type of fundraiser, where you can just pop in and play some games,” said Rooney. “It’s a lot of fun.”
His wife, Trish, said she’s overwhelmed by gratitude for the event’s donors and sponsors.
“We tell them our story and the next thing it’s like, ‘How can we help?’ It’s just amazing to have that support given to us. It makes what we do a lot easier when you’re not having to beg everyone for things,” she said.