The Microsoft Store at Bridgewater Commons Mall hosts an all-day Extra Life Gaming Marathon

Mountainside, NJ (October, 2016) —Local gamers of all levels and from all categories — console, mobile, PC, table-top, etc. — are uniting for one cause on Saturday, November 5: to save and improve the lives of kids treated at Children’s Specialized Hospital. Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals) fundraising program, provides game-loving locals a fun way to support, Children’s Specialized Hospital the local CMN Hospital.

Participants sign up for the 24-hour gaming marathon and invite friends, family and fans to make a donation to Children’s Specialized Hospital. The official Game Day is Nov. 5, but participants may complete their 24 hours of play whenever and however they like: all in one day, one hour a day for 24 days, etc. Players may also participate solo or on teams.

The Microsoft Store at Bridgewater Commons Mall has planned a full day of family fun at the Bridgewater Microsoft Store. They have teamed up with pro-gamer, Gabriel Diaz who will be streaming all day from the Microsoft store at Twitch.tv/Cubano with a goal of raising $5,000. Activities throughout the day include video games, board games, face painting, and a DJ throughout the day to provide a soundtrack to the games, food and fun!

Last year’s event raised over $140,000 for the hospital with top teams Shacknews and PS Nation. Over 780 gamers played for Children’s Specialized Hospital and helped fund the programs and services at Children’s Specialized Hospital, including our charity care fund. This year their goal is $150,000 for the kids!

“Extra Life introduced us to a new audience that continues to astound us with their passion for giving back,” said John Lauck, president and CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “As one of our fastest growing programs, Extra Life is making a big impact on children’s hospitals, and individual gamers are making countless miracles happen for local kids and families.”

The virtual marathon is expected to involve 65,000 gamers fundraising for 170 CMN Hospitals across North America. The 2015 event raised more than $1 million on Game Day, contributing to the year’s total of $8.3 million. Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised more than $22 million for member hospitals. The secure donations fund the selected hospital’s greatest needs, often including pediatric medical equipment, research, therapy programs and charitable care.

Extra Life partners with some of the largest names in the gaming industry, including Twitch, Rooster Teeth, reddit, Wizards of the Coast, Humble Bundle, ESA Foundation, XSplit and Trion Worlds. While anyone can participate, many expert gamers and broadcasters live-stream their play and earn donations from followers.

Interested participants can register at Extra-Life.org, select Children’s Specialized Hospital as their preferred CMN Hospital, set a fundraising goal and collect donations throughout the year for kids in need. Learn more about the local CMN Hospital and how donations are saving kids’ lives at CMNHospitals.org.