Extra Life

Extra Life is a gaming-based findraising program that was founded in 2008 with the purpose of raising funds in support of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® (CMN). Victoria Enmon was fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia during its inception and now is a platform to honor her and the other 62 kids that enter the hospital daily. As of 2019, Extra Life participants have raised over $70 million USD for CMN hospitals in the US (including Puerto Rico) and Canada! All of this money goes straight to participants' chosen hospital to pay for specific equipment and supplies, cover treatment costs for families, providing necessary services within the community and more. To raise that money, we pledge to play games for a single 24-hour marathon.

In 2012, I began participating in Extra Life supporting Beaumont Children's in Royal Oak, Michigan, my local hospital. I heard about it in my online gaming forum at Giant Bomb and joined the team, thinking it would be a good excuse to take off work and play games. That year I raised $164 USD while playing video games alone in my living room. The next year I raised $210 USD while playing games with my sister. In early 2014, I accepted the offer for a tour of Beaumont Children's by the hospital liason. It really put everything in perspective for me, and that if I took it seriously, I could do some real good for my community. That year I doubled my fundraising to $515, and our hospital was granted an official guild chapter to continue our growth and joined the local effort.

In 2016, CMN changed the Extra Life United tournament into a public event, and I decided to travel to Orlando, Florida to compete. It was an utterly life-changing event where I met hundreds of other people just like me who play games to heal kids. I got to meet kids and their families who have been impacted by what we do. I turned that energy into placing in the top 4 in the tournament for a $16,250 USD donation to Beaumont Children's. I took the responsibility into my own hands that and accepted the President role in our guild, which I have continuously held since. I have now spoken to corporate partners about new and innovative ways they can contribute to CMN. I've been able to make various media appearances on social media, local podcasts, and Beaumont Children's events including the annual Radiothon. I have also organized other events within the community fostering a connection with kids, families, and gamers advocating for the cause.

Now, over $33,000 USD in fundraising later, Extra Life is very much a defining part of me and I couldn't see myself doing anything else! It's too important to ensure kids have equal access to healthcare, no matter where they live or what situation their family is in.

For more information about Extra Life, visit their website. If you'd like to donate to my Extra Life fundraising, you can visit here.