2 Idiot Gamers

Well, it is that time of year again.  The beginning of September for me starts the beginning of the campaign drive for more recruits and drumming up supporters for me.  Extra Life this year is on October 15, 2011.  For those of you that do not know, Extra Life is a 24 hour gaming marathon.  Get people to pledge you money for every hour you play.  You do not have to play video games, any game counts – play scrabble with the family, have a afternoon football game, that counts to – even naked twister if that’s what you like.  Have fun and raise money for your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.   If you are concerned you cannot play 24 hours in one day,  break it up in two.  Anything goes.  Participate in the community get friends and family to sign-up.  Have Fun, Heal Kids, Make Friends.

This year Extra Life is a little different there are two membership levels.  The basic in which all participants start in at and the Platinum level.  Basic is free, you are eligible for some prizes, but none of the big ones; Platinum costs 15 dollars and makes you eligible for bigger prizes, like a new XBOX360, and the yearly t-shirt.  The current prize, the XBOX competition runs through September 12.  The way to win works like this, raise money, the more money you raise the more entries you get in the drawing. So if you raise $1200 before September 12, then you get 1,200 entries into the drawing; simple right?  Great – So get out there and start raising some money.  You can register at the all new website - www.extra-life.org.  You will notice that this year has a big sponsor - Microsoft.    They are responsible for the XBOX and a whole bunch of 12 Month Gold subscriptions.

With Extra Life being on October 15th – there are plenty of new games to play, let me break down a quick list from now to Oct 15 -

September -

• Resistance 3 (PS3)
• Dead Island (PC, PS3, XOBX)
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine  (PC, PS3, XOBX)
• Rugby World Cup 2011 (PS3, XBOX)
• Star Fox 64 (3DS)
• NHL12 (PS3, XBOX) – Ill take the Hawks against any of you fools.
• Gears of War 3 (XBOX)
• Shadow of the Colossus and ICO Collection (PS3)

As you may already know, I love video games.

What you might not know is that I am even more passionate about helping my local Children’s Miracle Network hospital to heal sick kids.

On October 16th, 2010 I’m bringing these two unlikely interests together as I attempt to play video games for 24 hours straight (it’s harder than it sounds).
It’s the 3rd annual Extra Life video game marathon, and I would really appreciate your sponsorship.

Would you be willing to donate $1.00 for each hour I play ($24.00 total) to help me raise money for Children’s Memorial Hospital?

https://www.hospitalshelpingkids.org/ExtraLife/m.aspx?i=17049DE3A55B080CD&e=CBD1

Please visit my personal Extra Life page and make a gift today. All donations made are collected securely and fund medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of the 17 million children treated at local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals each year.

This year I will be giving away two tickets to a Chicago Blackhawks game on Dec 15 to the highest donor (or an alternate date, to be determined, if that date does not work for the winner).  So think of it as a tax deductible blind auction.  This is my third year of participation and not only have I worked to raise money, I have worked to getting the word out about Extra Life and what it does.  My buddy Max and I spent a weekend at a Comic book show handing out flyers and explaining the event to anyone willing to listen.  We believe that all kids should be given a chance and the Children’s Miracle network works to provide this opportunity.  This year I have a goal of $1500, please try and help me reach this.  I know this sounds like a lot of fun, however doing anything for 24 hours can be tough.  Luckily I have a support group of others like me to help me get through all 24 hours.  The best part about ExtraLife is how rewarding it is.  Over the last 2 years, this community has worked to raise over $300,000 dollars to help sick kids, we hope to make this year the biggest yet.

I can’t do this without you. If you can, please take just a moment to make a gift in any amount that you feel comfortable with.
Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Brad Priller

I just got approval to have a table at Wizard World Chicago.  We will be there promoting ExtraLife and the show.  If you would like to work the table for a few hours giving us a chance to walk around, please email me, tweet me, or drop me a xbla or psn message and we can work out the details.

We are unable to get tickets for volunteers, however we were given a discount code.  Use CHIFAN at check out to get 5 bucks off your admission.  Now I haven’t tried this yet, so if buying more then one ticket, two transactions might be the way to go.

The show hours are -

Thursday, August 19, 2010 – 5pm – 9pm
Friday, August 20, 2010 – 12 (NOON) – 8pm
Saturday, August 21, 2010 – 10am – 7pm
Sunday, August 22, 2010 – 10am – 5pm

So please stop by, say ‘Hi’ and sign up for ExtraLife.  We might just be recording one day so you might just be part of the podcast.

There are few things I feel more passion towards then this event.  For the third year running the folks over at SarcasticGamer have given the gaming community something to rally behind and show our caring and supportive power as a group.  I have been part of ExtraLife for 2 years, this will be my third.  The first year I was a little lost and saw it more as a reason to play games for 24 hours in a row.  The second year, I rallied behind the cause and raised over a thousand bucks for Texas Children’s Hospital.  I became more active in the community and really enjoyed the interaction with other folks like myself.

This year, we are handling the charity aspect of this a little different.  Instead of it just being for Texas Children’s Hospital, we will be raising money for our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.  If you register, you can choose a hospital local to your community or anyone on the list presented during registration.  Here in Chicago, we have 3 to choose from.

St. John’s Children’s Hospital (Springfield, IL)

Children’s Memorial Hospital (Chicago, IL)

Children’s Hospital of Illinois (Peoria, IL)

If you want to participate, please go here and register.  If you do register, please sign up for the 2 Idiot Gamers Team, just join a team, search, we will be listed right there.  If you want to donate, please donate to my page.  I am raising money for Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.

Working together, as a community, over the last 2 years we have earned over $300,000 for Texas Children’s Hospital.  This year we can earn that much together and have it help those who need it near you.  So please sign up or donate.  Gaming has become more mainstream over the last few years, however ‘gamers’ still have a stigma around them.  It is events like these that can help garner a much healthier positive image for us.  So again, please get the word out!

Over the coming weeks, I will be giving you stories of how I prepared for ExtraLife,  got the word out, events we plan on having to promote this event, and how to deal with the 4AM stir-crazies that inevitably set in.

Thanks,

Brad

Again, you can donate here - https://www.hospitalshelpingkids.org/ExtraLife/m.aspx?i=17049DE3A55B080CD – All Major Credit Cards Accepted.

If you have questions concerning ExtraLife, please consult the FAQ!

About Extra Life: Extra Life takes place on October 16th, 2010 and is the 3rd annual occurence of the event, which aims to raise money and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  To date the event has raised more than $300,000 dollars to help kids live long happy lives by providing hospitals with much needed funding for equipment and programs.  100% of the money raised stays where it is raised.  In the gamer’s LOCAL CMN Hospital