What is Extra Life?
Extra Life is a yearly fundraising event that revolves around games! To really learn what it’s about I suggest watching the video, but have a tissue ready. Or read what Jeromy “Doc” Adams, one of the creative brains behind Extra Life, has to say about it:
“Extra Life began in 2008 as a way of honoring a young lady named Victoria Enmon. Tori’s battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia inspired the Sarcastic Gamer Community in a way that is difficult to describe. Members sent in video games and bought gifts to keep Tori’s spirits up despite numerous hospital stays and three bouts with the deadly disease.
Tragically, we lost Tori to cancer in January 2008. Later that year, I asked my partners at Sarcastic Gamer if they would be interested in Extra Life, a 24-hour video game marathon to raise money for the hospital that treated and fought beside Tori. In 2008 and 2009 Extra Life raised a combined $302,000, 100 percent of which went directly to help kids like Tori at my local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital (Texas Children’s Hospital).
While thousands of gamers, more than 100 websites and more than 12,000 donors were happy to support Extra Life, many expressed their desire to raise money to help kids closer to home. In what I can only consider destiny, in 2009 I left behind my radio career and went to work full-time for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as a Radiothon Director. This life-changing event gave me unique insight into an incredible non-profit organization that helps kids all over the United States and Canada.
I quickly realized that Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals would be the perfect solution to expand Extra Life into more communities.”
Join the Team! In 2015, the Nerdy Girls Society will have our own team! All of the money you raise for Extra Life 2015 will go directly to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital of your choice. St. Louis is lucky to have two fantastic hospitals to help kids, but that means they need twice as many dedicated participants.
Also, by joining the Nerdy Girls Society team, you can help us strengthen the female St. Louis gaming community.
You can register for free here to join the Nerdy Girls Society Extra Life team.
After you register, reach out to your friends and family and ask them to donate to your efforts while you play games. Maybe even invite them over to play games with you! Any game is acceptable – card games, video games, tabletop games, the list goes on and on.
The other great reason to join is because Extra Life begins whenever you want it to. Just find a date and time that works with your schedule and start playing! If you can make it, National Game Day begins at exactly 8 am CST on Saturday, November 7, and ends at 8 am CST on Sunday, November 8. Don’t let a previous commitment on the 7th or 8th stop you from joining. What matters the most is the time you put in BEFORE the event to raise money for these kids.
Hmm…
Not comfortable asking for donations, but still want to help? Not a problem! You can either donate to the Nerdy Girls Society team page or to me. Either way 100% of the proceeds go to the kids!
Who Are You?
Me? I’m Stephanie, I have been a member of Nerdy Girls Society since October 2012. I’m sure you have seen me around either hosting events I have planned or attending one of the many fun ones offered.
This will be my 3rd year participating with Extra Life; last year I streamed for the first time on my Twitch channel and raised $250, which I hope to beat this year!
I have also just recently joined the Extra Life St. Louis Guild. A Guild? Shhh… it’s like the Thieves Guild. Just kidding! The guilds are a group of passionate Extra Lifers who want to get more involved with Extra Life on a local level. Our first goal is to strengthen Extra Life here in St. Louis by getting 1000 members for 2015.