Gaming Marathon to Help The Children’s Hospital at MUMC

Savannah, GA, July 25, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Video game enthusiasts of all ages are invited to use their skills to raise funds and awareness for The Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center (MUMC), a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The sixth annual Extra Life gaming marathon is enrolling participants now. Gamers sign up for free at www.extra-life.org, select The Children’s Hospital at MUMC, and seek online donations. November 2 is “game day,” and participants will play in a 25-hour gaming marathon.

Each Extra Life participant is asked to raise money by recruiting at least four sponsors to give a minimum of $1 for each hour of the marathon, equating to just $25 per sponsor. Gamers who support The Children’s Hospital at MUMC will help provide care for more than 50,000 children each year.

“Extra Life has experienced phenomenal growth over the past five years because it gives gamers an easy way to help their Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals while celebrating the joy of gaming,” said Jeromy (Doc) Adams, Extra Life director at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Participants can raise funds as individuals or teams, and game accordingly on November 2.”

Adams also noted the Extra Life website provides helpful links, blog posts and media resources for promoting and encouraging donations.

As with traditional CMN Hospitals fundraisers, all dollars raised through Extra Life go directly to the nearest member hospital. The Children’s Hospital at MUMC has used these funds to purchase Giraffe® OmniBeds and feeding pumps for MUMC’s Level III neonatal intensive care nursery, transport cribs, and a neonatal transport ambulance. Additionally, the child life specialists at MUMC are funded through CMN Hospitals. They provide education, play, and coping techniques for children receiving medical treatment.

Though the Extra Life program is billed as a 25-hour marathon, gamers are encouraged to take breaks throughout the day and to implement any applicable safety measures. Players can game for the 25 hours on November. 2, spread out their hours over several days, or play as a relay among team members.

To learn more about this year’s Extra Life gaming marathon, visit www.extra-life.org, Like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sgextralife or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/extralife4kids.

Memorial University Medical Center
Memorial University Medical Center is a two-state healthcare organization serving a 35-county area in southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. The system includes its flagship hospital, a 610-bed academic medical center; Memorial primary and specialty physician networks; a major medical education program; business and industry services; and NurseOne, a 24-hour call center. To learn more, visit www.memorialhealth.com. You can follow us at facebook.com/memorialhealth, twitter.com/mymemorial, and youtube.com/memorialhealth.

More about Extra Life:
Extra Life was created by Adams in 2008 to honor the late Tori Enmon, a 15-year-old Children’s Miracle Network Hospital patient who played video games during her battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In 2012, Extra Life participants reached a fundraising milestone, with more than $2 million directly benefiting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the United States and Canada. Hospitals use the funds however they’re needed most, typically to purchase equipment, conduct research and provide uncompensated care.