CREDIT: PROVIDED BY ERICA MORE
Gamers of all kinds will play games of their choice for 24 hours during the third annual London LAN for Extra Life: Powered by The Factory on Nov. 2. The fundraiser supports the Children's Health Foundation.

London gamers will unite on Nov. 2 for a good cause.

The Children’s Health Foundation and the Extra Life London Guild are teaming up for the third annual London LAN for Extra Life: Powered by The Factory. Gamers will fundraise by gathering at the Factory and playing games for 24 hours.

Erica More, the community relations associate for the Children’s Health Foundation, said that more than 80 gamers will attend and play games of their choice. The Extra Life London Guild will host competitions every hour where gamers will have a chance to win prizes. There will also be a Discord chat for the event, along with a late-night Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) tournament.

“It’s important to have fundraisers like this because a program like Extra Life; it reaches a demographic of people that we wouldn’t necessarily reach and are other facets of fundraising,” More said. “So it’s great to be kind of able to spread that out into the community of gamers and get them passionate about the hospital and raising money to help kids in their community.”

This will be the first year London LAN for Extra Life will be held at The Factory. The event was previously held at Northern Commerce, where more than 100 people played games and raised more than $11,000 for the services, programs and equipment at the Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). More said 90 per cent of the Children’s Hospital’s equipment came from donor funds from events like London LAN for Extra Life.

While based in London, the Children’s Hospital helps kids across Southwestern Ontario. Gabe (last name withheld upon request), a child from Windsor, will be at the event as the Extra Life Patient Ambassador with one of his gamer friends and his little brother.

“The three of them are going to be participating in the event,” More said. “They’re also going to be speaking at our opening remarks and sharing their story and just demonstrating to the participants the impact that the fundraiser that they’re doing throughout that 24 hours is going to have on families and children within the hospital.”

Sarah Lehman, the president of the Extra Life London Guild, said in an email interview with Interrobang that there’s a sense of community at London LAN for Extra Life.

“Although we focus very much on raising funds for the Children’s Health Foundation,” she said. “It is also about creating lasting friendships and building a community of people you can connect with in every day life.”

Lehman said that along with video games, people part of Extra Life create puzzles, host trivia events, and play games like Magic: The Gathering and D&D. She added the fundraiser allows the Guild to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.

“You yourself may not have had to use the services at LHSC, but I can guarantee that there is someone you know or are connected to that has a family member, friend, or acquaintance that has used the services.”

Lehman warns the event’s participants that since they will be awake for more than 24 hours, they will be exhausted. In a follow-up email with Interrobang, she said that participants should increase their stamina by taking care of themselves and practise gaming for long hours ahead of time.

“I myself will practise streaming for six to eight hours once or twice to prepare myself for a long day of fundraising,” she said. “What is most important is to listen to your body and take care of yourself. Always drink lots of water and eat healthy snacks to keep your body fueled. Someone who is well rested before the event has more fun during the event.”

Lehman added the Extra Life London Guild also encourages self-care before, during, and after the event. People will bring blankets and pillows if they want to nap at the event and/or arrange a ride ahead of time. She recommended not scheduling anything on the day to relax with lots of water, sleep, and healthy food.

Attendees can start arriving at the Factory at 8:30 a.m., with gaming running from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Visit childhealth.ca/extralife to find out more the event. Those interested in becoming part of the Extra Life London Guild can send an email to extralifelondon@nullgmail.com or reach out via Facebook.