Participants of the 2024 25-Hour Game Day pose for a photo. The event, which begins again Saturday at 8 a.m., raises money for the Alberta Children's Hospital in honour of Dominic Rooney, who passed away from cancer in 2015.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
This weekend, the Dominic Strong team is inviting the public to take part in a portion of their annual 25-hour game day.
The day is put on through Extra Life, a charity which focuses on video game enthusiasts to support Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. The group within Medicine Hat specifically, says event organizer Sean Rooney, has raised $350,000 through various programs, such as the online auction and Superhero Night with the Mavericks.
Most years, says Rooney, the game day is conducted at someone’s home, but this year they are partnering with SixOneSix Entertainment to allow for a public participation period as well.
“What they normally do is a 25- or 24-hour gaming marathon, which was sort of the crux of it originally. We’ve been doing it ever since Dominic was diagnosed way back in 2013,” said Rooney. “Because it’s been 10 years since Dominic died, we decided that this year we should do a public game day.”
The team themselves will start their marathon at 8 a.m. this Saturday, streaming the event for those interested in observing or supporting. At noon, when SixOneSix Entertainment opens, the public will be able to join for various games and entertainment until the business closes at 10 p.m.
The team will then continue on until 8 a.m. Sunday for a total of 25 hours when factoring in the time change.
“Ken Forbes, who owns SixOneSix, reached out to let us use the space this year. He’s actually donated to us in the past a couple of years. We will often include SixOneSix as part of our 25-hour game day, to go and throw some axes and such,” said Rooney, recalling Forbes offering them small challenges that allowed them to earn money for their cause such as securing a bullseye with their final axe.
Anyone who would like to participate is welcome to come down during the public portion of the event, says Rooney, to enjoy playing some games, support a worthy cause and potentially even win some prizes organized by the team.
“I’m doing a little Mario Kart challenge where we’ve got a couple prizes for fastest lap, one for kids and one for adults,” said Rooney. “We’re also doing this sort of fun coin drop thing. We’re basically just dropping loonies into a bucket of water and if it can land in a shot glass, you get entered in a draw for a prize.”
Also notable is a small dice chart, which will prompt different challenges or actions from the team whenever a donation of $10 or more is received.
Thus far this year, they have raised $15,000 for the hospital, with a goal of $25,000 raised in total. Rooney says that some members of the team have pledged to get a tattoo of the Dominic Strong logo should the goal be met.
“It’s gonna be a super fun day and we’re just hoping we get lots of people out to help us raise money for the Alberta Children’s Hospital,” said Rooney.
