Participants of this year's Dominic Strong marathon 25-hour gaming fundraiser held by Sean and Trish Rooney for their late son Dominic pose for a photo. The group raised more than $20,000 for the Alberta Children's Hospital over the weekend.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Only one month away from his third birthday, Dominic Rooney passed away after a two-year battle with cancer nine years ago while on a Make-a-Wish trip to Disney World in Orlando.
“Dominic was such a happy, fun loving kid who didn’t let anything get him down,” recalls father Sean Rooney. “And that spirit is absolutely what we want to remember and try to aspire to.”
Since Dominic was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2013 at the age of 11 months, his family has been hosting an annual fundraiser to support the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary titled ‘Dominic Strong,’ and to date have raised more than $350,000.
“We wanted to try and give back to that hospital because they were doing so much for our son,” says Rooney.
Sean and Trish Rooney decided to begin hosting a 24-hour lighthearted video/tabletop/outdoor game night fundraiser through Extra Life, part of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which raises money for specific children’s hospitals throughout North America.
“Trish and I consider fundraising and charity work that we do in memory of him,” says Rooney. “Sort of the way we raise a son that we don’t physically have anymore. So it’s really important for us to do that right and to honour him.”
Starting at 8 a.m Saturday, approximately 30 people participated in a 25-hour marathon game day that included indoor and outdoor games, tabletop and video games as well as contests to raise donations online.
“One of the ones was to write the donor’s name on you,” explains Rooney. “So I had bandages with six or seven names, and I was just plastering them all over my bald scalp. Trish was literally writing names on her arms with tattoo pens.”
From using hair dye, dice rolls, blowing the largest bubblegum bubble to performing trending dances from TikTok, the 25-hour fundraiser is centred around having a good time and not taking life so seriously.
The ‘Dominic Strong’ fundraiser was live-streamed on Twitch.t,v and with a corresponding online auction through the Extra Life platform in September, raised more than US$20,000 for the Children’s Hospital this year.
Rooney says participants of the marathon reach for a variety of snacks and drinks to help keep them awake, including coffee, energy drinks and lemonade.
“I did not have a single energy drink; I did drink however, about three litres of lemonade, I wouldn’t say it’s a good idea, I’m just saying that’s what I did,” Rooney joked.
Next year the family is hoping to organize a community game-night marathon/fundraiser at a facility in Medicine Hat or Dunmore to honour the 10-year anniversary of Dominic’s passing and to allow more residents to participate in the fun.
“No matter how many people come out next year to the big public event, it’s going to be a good time and we’re looking forward to it,” said Rooney.
You can search #dominicstrong on Facebook to follow future fundraising efforts.
