Celebrating 15 years of Extra Life Edmonton
For 15 years, gamers of all kinds have come together each November for Extra Life Game Day, a 24-hour gaming marathon in support of Stollery kids.
Part of the Children’s Miracle Network, Extra Life is a DIY fundraising program where gamers can play their way and raise money in support of their local children’s hospital. The Extra Life Edmonton guild puts on exciting gaming events all year long in support of the Stollery, with Extra Life Game Day being their biggest event of the year. Each November, a group of dedicated gamers come together and play for 24-hours straight, raising funds and building a community around a shared belief of kids’ health.
The Extra Life Edmonton team is one of the largest and most active in the world with more than 500 gamers from across Alberta and beyond! Since 2011, Extra Life Edmonton has raised more than $4.5 million for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
In recognition of this exciting milestone, we want to introduce you to some of the dedicated Extra Life Edmonton gamers who help make this community so special.
Meet Shawn
Shawn Sproule has been with Extra Life Edmonton since the very beginning. Initially he thought Extra Life was a great excuse to play games all day and not feel guilty – it’s for charity, after all. Unfortunately for Shawn, that first Game Day didn’t go as planned and was GAME OVER before it even began. While his Xbox failed to start, he still managed to raise $25 in support of the Stollery – money he donated to himself. By year two, things went a bit smoother for Shawn. His system turned on and he even hit his first fundraising milestone – raising $1,000. He quickly realized that he could make a meaningful difference for kids across northern Alberta by simply playing a game, and he never looked back. In addition to helping Stollery kids, Shawn is grateful for the community and friendships Extra Life Edmonton has helped him build.
Shawn’s favourite game is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Meet Lisa
Lisa Hawthorne has also been gaming with Extra Life Edmonton for all 15 years. She not only plays games as part of Extra Life, but she’s also a dedicated volunteer with the guild, serving as its president for many years. For Lisa, Extra Life brings together the two things she loves: gaming and helping others, with the most rewarding part being the feeling of fulfillment that comes with supporting Stollery kids while doing something she loves.
The cause is also deeply personal, as many people in Lisa’s life, including her nieces and nephews, have received care at the Stollery. She’s seen firsthand the teams who support kids and their families during challenging times, making the work of Extra Life Edmonton – and the fact that they’re one of the most successful fundraising teams in North America for the last 15 years – feel especially meaningful. Extra Life has given Lisa more than a way to give back, it’s connected her with a community and helped her build lifelong relationships through gaming and a shared commitment to supporting Stollery kids.
Lisa’s favourite game is Final Fantasy XIV and the Final Fantasy Remake series.
For 15 years, Extra Life Edmonton has brought gamers together to make an incredible impact. Support from gamers like Shawn and Lisa makes a life-changing difference for Stollery kids and their families — now and in the future.
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