Playing games to raise cash for kids
Playing games did more than just provide fun for Windsor-Essex residents — it helped raised funds to support Windsor’s sick children.
Gamers of all types came out to The CG Realm, a local game store, to play games for 33 hours and raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The event was organized by the Windsor Extra Life team with the help of CG Realm owners, who provided space for the activities ranging from Dungeons and Dragons, to an escape room and an augmented reality station.
Head of Windsor Gaming Resources, Moe Tousignant, has been trying to grow the event for the last eight years. Tousignant started out with his friends at a board game tournament, hearing about Extra Life through a suggestion
Moe Tousignant, 44, organizer of Extra Life
and it quickly gained approval through his group.
“Games should be for everyone,” Tousignant said. “We’re trying to appeal to any type of game or any crowd.”
The goal for Extra Life this year was set at $10,000, and just in the first eight hours, the event had collected over $2,000. As of Nov. 4, the total amount that has been counted was more than $5,000. Funds were gathered from donations, attendees using cheat jars that give the player an option to cheat after donating a dollar, bake sale items, an escape room provided by Hidden Trail, and an auction offering a multitude of gaming items, books and other products donated by sponsors. The event occurred over 33 hours between Nov. 2 and Nov. 3.
Jeff Szusz, 33, is a second-year attendee who enjoys running games for other players, inspired by Tousignant to “do some good stuff for some good charities.” Szusz doesn’t have any personal experience with child illnesses, but he empathizes with those who do.
Jeff Szusz, 33, attendee at Extra Life that helped run games for others.
“We need to make sure that sick kids get the help they need,” said Szusz.
The Extra Life charity was established in 2008 by the Sarcastic Gamer podcast community to support the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. All money raised by Extra Life teams is donated to the CMNH, and Extra Life has raised almost $52 million USD.
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