Sean Rooney and his teammates are hoping to raise money for the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary during their upcoming 25-hour Extra Life gaming fundraiser, in honour of Rooney's late son Dominic, who passed from leukemia in 2015.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
A group of gamers from Medicine Hat and area continue to make a difference in the lives of sick children through the annual Extra Life 25-hour gaming fundraiser, taking place Saturday.
Known by their team name #dominicstrong, the group has been participating in Extra Life — an annual, multinational fundraising event in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals — for the past 10 years. They have raised more than $250,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary.
“The money we raise goes towards improving research, technology and extra levels of care,” team founder and captain Sean Rooney told the News. “And it has a significant impact. (This money funds) extra tools for doctors and nurses, or even just little simple things that just make being a patient there so much more friendly and gives that extra bit of support.”
Rooney has seen firsthand the impact such support can have for patients, as his infant son Dominic was a patient of the hospital from 2013-2015, before he passed away from leukemia.
Rooney says continued participation in Extra Life is his way of keeping Dominic’s memory alive. And to celebrate his team’s decade of participation, Rooney and his cohorts are opening the event to the public for the first time in five years.
“I would love to see people come out on our game day,” said Rooney. “We’re doing a bigger event than usual. We’ll have door prizes, a silent auction, lots of games and some special guests, too.”
Being hosted in one of the Medicine Hat Lodge’s ballrooms, the public portion of the event runs 3-7 p.m. Saturday; though Rooney and his teammates will be on site through the full 25 hours.
Admission is free, though monetary donations are welcome, with all donations going to the #dominicstrong team’s fundraising goal of $20,000 — currently sitting at just over $14,000.
“Just come by, have a good time and raise some money for the hospital,” Rooney said.
