Extra Life began in 2008 as a way of honoring a young lady named Victoria Enmon. Tori’s battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.) inspired the Sarcastic Gamer Community in a way that is difficult to describe. Members sent in video games and bought gifts to try to keep Tori’s spirits up despite numerous hospital stays and 3 bouts with the deadly disease.
Tragically, we lost Tori to cancer in January of 2008. Later that year, I asked my partners at Sarcastic Gamer if they would be interested in Extra Life, a 24-hour video game marathon to raise money for the hospital that treated and fought beside Tori. In 2008 and 2009 Extra Life raised a combined $302,000 dollars, 100% of which went directly to help kids like Tori at my local Children’s Miracle Network hospital (Texas Children’s).
While thousands of gamers, over 100 websites, and over 12,000 donors were more than happy to support Extra Life, many expressed their desire to raise money to help kids closer to home. In what I can only consider destiny, in 2009 I left behind my radio career and went to work full time for Children’s Miracle Network, as a Radiothon Director. This life-changing event gave me unique insight into an incredible non-profit organization that helps to heal kids all over the United States, Canada, UK, and Australia.
I quickly realized that CMN would be the perfect solution to expanding Extra Life into more communities.
This year, when you sign up to play video games for 24 hours on October 16th, 2010, you won’t just be raising money for kids. You’ll be supporting LOCAL kids and their families. Kids right in your own back yard.
100% of the money you raise in Extra Life 2010 will go directly to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital closest to you.
Do you want to have more fun than you can probably handle, while helping out some of the bravest (and smallest) warriors in your community? Here’s all you have to do.
- Register and create your personal fundraising page.
- Try to get at least 4 friends or family members to sponsor you at $1.00 per hour ($24.00 each)
- Sit on your rear end and play video games for 24 straight hours on Saturday October 16th begining at 8:00am in your local timezone.
I also encourage you to take this opportunity to learn more about your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and to meet some of the kids that we’ll be working to help.