Be a hero: Play Games. Heal Kids.

By Josué Cardona

“Play Games. Heal Kids.” That is this year’s Extra Life slogan.

Extra Life is a gaming marathon for charity similar to walkathons for cancer and other causes. It works the same way: Participants in the marathon are sponsored and all proceeds go to charity. In this case, participants play video games for 25 hours and all proceeds go to hospitals in the Children’s Miracle Network. Extra Life players raised $2.3 million in 2012. This year’s marathon is taking place on November 2nd.

At Geek Therapy we’re all about how Geeks can save the world and Extra Life is a perfect example. We created a Geek Therapy team that you can support but you can support anyone or any team by visiting www.extra-life.org.

This is my second year participating and choosing to support Boston Children’s Hospital. Extra Life got started in memory of a girl who lost a battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2008. Similarly, I decided to participate when my friends lost their daughter Zoë Faye in 2012 to a  malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT), a rare and aggressive tumor that appears in the central nervous system, kidneys, and abdominal cavity. 

As I understand it, Boston’s Children Hospital put up one hell of a fight and its staff did everything they could for Zoë and her family. So that is why I chose to support Boston Children’s Hospital. Other participants also have personal stories and others just choose their nearest hospital. Whatever the reason, Extra Life is a great organization that has taken on the important mission of helping kids. 

Please consider participating or donating even just a dollar to Extra Life during these final two weeks leading up to November 2nd.

For more information on Extra Life visit www.extra-life.org.
For more information about Zoë visit Team Zoë at www.teamzoecancersucks.com.