Chattanooga, Tenn. – Families, individuals and game groups are all helping sick and injured children who are treated at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital at Erlanger with a can’t-miss opportunity on Saturday, November 2.
Extra Life, a fundraising phenomenon helping Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America, adds a life-saving purpose to playing video, board and lawn games.
Extra Life was created by Jeromy ‘Doc’ Adams in 2008 to honor the late Tori Enmon, a 15-year-old Children’s Miracle Network Hospital patient who played video games during her battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In 2012, Extra Life participants reached a fundraising milestone, with thousands of gamers raising more than $2.1 million directly benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the United States and Canada.
Gamers can register for free at www.extra-life.org and select Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. Once a fundraising account and goal is established, participants ask their friends and family to support their “game day” on November 2.
“All funds raised through Extra Life by area gamers will stay local to support the ongoing renovation of our inpatient rooms so that we can provide the best possible care in a family centered environment,” said Rebecca Brinkley, Children’s Hospital Foundation and CMN Hospitals representative. “Extra Life will even provide modifiable email templates, social media prompts and other digital resources to promote gamers’ fundraising efforts.”
To encourage the power of group fundraising this year, gaming communities who raise the most collective funds can win up to $60,000 for their local hospital.
“Every year since 2008, the gaming community has increasingly embraced Extra Life as a way to give back locally for the love of gaming,” says Jeromy ‘Doc’ Adams, Extra Life founder and program director. “Gaming companies and media outlets have taken notice of this charged fundraising force, and we’re gearing up to have our best fundraising year yet. Local gamers are the reason this program has taken off and raised millions for hospitals needing help.”
Points for consideration:
• Extra Life lets gamers play what they want and raise funds as a group, in a common location or from the comfort of their own homes.
• Gamers do not have to play all day long; Extra Life is customizable to one’s gaming capacity, and healthy gaming should be considered top priority. More information can be found below in the “Safe Gaming” section.
To learn more and to register for this year’s Extra Life gaming event, visit www.extra-life.org, Like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/extralife4kids or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/extralife4kids .
ABOUT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT ERLANGER
As the only medical center in the Chattanooga and tri-state region devoted solely to children, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger provides the best in children’s healthcare by viewing the world from a unique perspective of children and understanding what they need. Children’s Hospital is a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center, the highest designation in the state for pediatrics. The hospital offers a full range of pediatric subspecialists, as well as a pediatric ER, ICU, and Level III neonatal intensive care unit, providing the highest level of care in the region for premature and sick infants. Learn more at www.erlanger.org/childrens
ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS:
Children’s Mirac1e Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4.7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. lts various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, and learn about your member hospital, atwww.CMNHospitals.org and www.facebook.com/CMNHospitals
ABOUT SAFE GAMING:
Though the Extra Life program is billed as a gaming marathon, gamers are encouraged to take breaks throughout the day and to implement all applicable safety measures. Players can choose to game for a portion of 25 hours on Nov. 2, spread out their hours over several days or play as a relay among team members. Please visit the Safety Notice page at www.extra-life.org for more tips on how to game wisely.
