30 Reasons Why Gamers Participate in Fundraising Program Extra Life

In 30 days, gamers will unite and fundraise for their local CMN Hospital on Extra Life’s Game Day, Nov. 5. Since it’s inception in 2008, Extra Lifers have raised more than $22 million for 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America.

We asked the Extra Life community why they participate and here are 30 reasons why:

1. I do #ExtraLife because I was once a kid in a hospital, and I am grateful for them. Playing games for the kids? Of Course. — @Tuteinstreams

2. My son, Brendon, is my inspiration to Extra Life. When he was three years old he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer. He fought through it every day for three years until he passed away in February 2005. During that time he really loved computer, PlayStation and Xbox games. — Sandra M.

3. I Extra Life because the mental image of my youngest child’s face, sick and scared, is always fresh in my memory. And because, thanks to the Marshfield, Wisconsin Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, I get to see that face, healthy and smiling, every day when I go home. — Tim W.

4. Because I never know if my daughter or friends kids will need a children’s hospital and I want that help to be there. — @CP_Uoynwoi

5. I Extra Life for every child who needs it. For every kid who wants to be a kid. — Jeff D.

6. I do it because I know from personal experience with Cerebral Palsy how much it sucks being sick as a kid in a hospital and I want to help make it a little bit better. I also do it because it’s something that I can physical do even though I am disabled. — Rachel C.

7. For my cousin who currently is battling cancer. Strongest little girl I know! — @RufiOOHHH

8. For my baby girl Kinsley. 2mo old and still not home. — Troy J.

9. To help kids who cant always help themselves these poor kids go through so much but are always happy they are heroes to me. — @tmaxxnc

10. This is my 6th year with Extra Life, this is my 3rd year gaming as a team, every year our team has gotten larger. I started Extra Life to show my children that gaming can be used to benefit others, bring people from different walks of life together for a common goal, to help others and have fun doing it. — Jeff W.

11. Because the hospital that helped me to remission deserves my undying support. I wouldn’t be here without them. — @KiyakouTV

12. When my kid was 2 months old she was hospitalized at a Children’s Hospital for something that ended up not being serious, but I am so thankful for that facility existing because it was so different from a regular hospital. Everything was catered toward making us comfortable and not making our child feel afraid at a time where it was nice to have that responsibility shared by everyone. That’s why I play! — Zombianca E.

13. To prove that gamers can do some real good in the world. — Jason M.

14. I know too many amazing teens and adults who once were very sick kids. — @mescad

15. Just cause I want to. I have two kids of my own, and I’d want to know they’d be taken care of in an emergency. — @OrcrystGaming

16. Giving back when I had to undergo 10 he jaw surgery in Grade 11 for a Cyst that took up 99% of the bone mass in my right mandible. And this year for my new friend Janelle who was recently diagnosed as in remission after battling with Whilms kidney cancer since December 2015. That’s why I play. — Graeme F.

17. Showing people that it’s easy to set something up and take action for a good cause. — Jon P.

18. To help my local children’s hospital and thank them for all the great work they do. Who knows, maybe my son will need them. — @WickedD365Games

19. I stumbled across Extra Life via Scott Johnson on Frogpants Network and a friend in Georgia. I started gaming as a young kind and found this charity a fascinating way to take something I’d been doing my entire life and turn it to something good. We all know many kids who have been sick at some point and, for my family, this struck close to home. — Brian G.

20. Sickkids hospital has been there for myself and family. — Colin H.

21. We’ve seen Extra Life funds in action, first-hand. Storm was born with a genetic disorder, Seth started having seizures at age three and Giada battled RSV when she was just three months old. Father and Extra Life veteran Nic participates to say “thank you” to his CMN Hospital and to help other kids get the care they need. — Nic E.

22. Because of Doc Adams and the pure passion for this in the announcement of the first year. I couldn’t say no after that. — @Diortem

23. Why do I participate in Extra Life? This is probably one of the easiest, yet most difficult questions I’ve had to answer. I have a child, his name is James and he’s 5 years old. My greatest fear and top priority everyday is making sure he is healthy and safe. Through today, he has been given the gift of health. The short answer for why I participate: Too many children are not given that gift. If anything happened to my son I can rest easy knowing the facility he would be treated at is not lacking in dedicated support. — Shanna H.

24. I do it as my way to help and to have fun at the same time. It’s the best of both worlds. —@xWayzzHD

25. My friends and I #EXTRALIFE every year because it’s a chance for us to get together. Living in separate areas, we can come together to experience some nostalgia playing retro games we enjoyed in the past for 24 straight hours! Our most recent one, we not only got to enjoy some of our favorite titles from the 80’s and 90’s, but locate some snacks and drinks we used to enjoy during sleepless nights. And of course, we get to raise money at the same time while having fun! — Ruban N.

26. When I was around 12-15 years old I spent a great deal of time in the hospital. I was fighting Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, children’s edition. I went through several bouts of treatment in the children’s wing at the U of A hospital in Edmonton Then I reached the goal; I was cured! Life went back to normal aside from the continual check-ups for remission. When I discovered that I could combine my love gaming and my wish to support these amazing people, I just had to jump at the chance. — David H.

27. Help to kids who are less fortunate and it is also how I started streaming. — @TheReckless_Fox

28. We do it, not for any personal reasons, but because we know there are people with personal experiences. We have the capability to help those who need help, and we’d do this every week if we could! It’s a fantastic organization, and a fantastic charity movement, not to mention it’s a ton of fun! — Tommy C.

29. My son was born 6 weeks early. A week after getting out of the NICU, he ended up with a Staph infection in his knee. We spent 3 weeks in the hospital. Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center was nothing short of amazing to my family. They did everything they could to make it as comfortable as possible for my wife and I. I do it as a way to pay them back for being so great. — Nathan Z.

30. We have two beautiful and amazing daughters that are growing up happy and healthy, thanks in no small part to the people of St. Francis Children’s Hospital. — Scott S.

Extra Life unites thousands of players around the world in a 24-hour gaming marathon to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised more than $22 million for local CMN Hospitals. Register for free to participate and learn more about how you can Play Games, Heal Kids at extra-life.org.