Students use video games for charitable cause
Imagine being able to watch a telethon that used a stream of video games to raise money for charity. When you turn on the monitor, you watch a screen that is split into two—one with all your favourite video games, and the other featuring a cast of real people that you see fight over the course of a weekend to raise money for an awesome cause. Well that’s exactly what a student society at Memorial University is doing in July.
The Sandbox Gaming Society at MUN is preparing for their eight video game charity marathon, this one in support of Easter Seals Newfoundland and Labrador. All the proceeds go towards programs and services for children and youth with physical disabilities.
The concept of the marathon sound complicated at first, but, according to group members, once you see it in action, it makes a lot more sense. From July 4-7, for 80 hours, they stream online two video captures - one of the many games they are playing through and the other of a webcam which captures the room in which the games are being played, so you can see all those involved, similar to a telethon. As well, on their website you are able to donate and chat - all from the comfort of your own home. That’s right, everything can be done at home by logging into www.sandboxgaming.org.
Their goal is to beat 40 different video games, while trying to raise $7500 for Easter Seals NL. You can donate online during the marathon, or show up during the marathon, which is being held from 10 am – 8 pm each day at the Husky Energy Easter Seals House, 206 Mount Scio Road.
The society if a part of the larger organization, which was founded in 2010. Sandbox Gaming is a registered non-profit organization in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Since their founding, they have raised over $22 000 for children’s charities. They have been working towards completing three missions: to raise money for children’s charities which promote play, to build a gaming community in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to dispel negative stereotypes surrounding gamers.
If gamers are the kind of people who dedicate whole weekends at a time for such a charitable cause, they are doing just that—dispelling stereotypes.