Members of Virginia Western Community College’s Gaming Club are participating in Extra Life, an event that unites thousands of gamers around the world to play games in support of their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Virginia Western’s gamers are raising funds for Carilion Children’s Hospital today and Saturday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on the third floor of the Maury and Sheila Strauss Family Student Life Center.
Extra Life’s slogan is simple, “Play games. Heal kids.” One hundred percent of the proceeds raised stay local, supporting sick and injured children, through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Southwest Virginia – Carilion Children’s Hospital.
Last year, the Virginia Western Gaming Club members raised more than $3,500. In 2018, they raised $1,200. Individuals can support the Gaming Club’s efforts by visiting www.extra-life.org and donating to Virginia Western gamers or signing up to participate themselves.
Extra Life, a non-profit, unites thousands of gamers around the world to play games in support of their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital for the past 10 years. It started with a little girl in Orange, Texas, Victoria “Tori” Enmon and a radio host, “Doc” Jeromy Adams meeting in Houston. Inspired by their journey, and eventual friendship with Tori and her family, Doc felt called to do more for kids and in Tori’s honor. “It just occurred to me that gamers should be able to do the things they love, to be able to help sick and injured kids, as well.” Doc shares, “And so, Extra Life was born. 1,200 gamers showed up on October 15, 2008.” Each year Extra Life continues to grow, uniting over 100,000 gamer “heroes” and raising more than $40 million for sick and injured kids since its inception.