Playing games for a noble cause

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Playing games for a noble cause

Details: Published on Tuesday, July 24, 2018

By Cassandra Wehrhahn

Neepawa Banner & Press

“Play games. Heal Kids.” That’s the motto of the Canada and U.S wide charity event known as Extra Life.

The annual fundraising event is largely powered by live streaming website “Twitch”, along with various other partners, and benefits the 170 children’s hospitals that are part of the Children’s Miracle Network.

2017 event raises nearly $4,000

The event has been around since 2008, and has raised a total of over forty-million dollars to date. Extra Life states that all donations stay 100 per cent local, so they can effectively fund critical treatments, healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment, and charitable care.

Each participant may collect donations separately, or as a team. Westman’s own team of 43 participants, MB-Westman, met last year at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon and raised $3,979.54.

Last year’s roster

The roster that year included:

“ACC 2017 Team Leader”, Alan Furness, Alex Trush, “Attempt One”, Bri Marohn, “BubbleBabu”, Chris Noto, Christopher Obsniuk, Cassandra “CJ” Wehrhahn, Colton Smith, David Bos, Dylan Toews, Eric Purvis, “ETO_Otaku”, Hailey Berry, Jackson Low, Jaden Ackroyd, Jared Stanley, Jesse Bunn, Johnathon Fingas, Kendal Boulet, Kennedy Kramer, Lucas Johnston, Matt Mason, Matthew Burgess, Michael Dominique-Taylor, Nabil Roberts, Nick Yakimishen, Noah Pearen, Onix Collette (“Onix Angel”), Randall Chuckry, Raymond Northcott, Rich Lonstrup, Robert Black, Ryan Whitehurst, Tanner Milliken, Trent Buffi, Trevor Madden, Trevor Venn, Tyler Mackinnon, and William Heaver.

2018 event roster and goal

This year, the roster currently consists of five registered participants:

“Team Leader”, Jackson Low, Onix Collette (“Onix Angel”), Trent Buffi, and Cassandra “CJ” Wehrhahn.

More participants register closer to the date of the event.

The team’s meet-up location hasn’t been decided for this year, their goal has. MB-Westman is aiming to collect $5,000 for the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital. As of Thursday, July 12, MB-Westman has raised $191, which is 3.8 per cent of their goal.

The official “Game Day” is on Saturday, Nov. 3, but participants have started gathering donations now to get ahead of the game, and collect as many donations as possible before the end of the year.