Forget Everything You Think You Know About Gamers
Forget everything you think you know about gamers. It’s time to step away from those tired old stereotypes that games are only for kids or reclusive basement dwellers. After all, the gaming industry is now worth around £137 billion – it’s bigger than TV and Hollywood [1]. Gaming is an immersive and interactive pastime, with a huge audience of people from all ages and backgrounds.
And you know what’s really exciting? A growing number of charities are using online games and livestreams to engage with prospective supporters, build online communities, and drive donations. For nonprofits who are new to this rapidly growing channel, it can be difficult to understand just exactly where to start. That’s why I’m thrilled to share my story of how I launched a hugely successful charity gaming stream that raised over $5,500 for the Prevent Cancer Foundation [2].
The Inspiration Behind My Charity Stream
Two years ago, my cousin Steven went in for some routine tests at the doctor’s. That’s when he learned the devastating news – he had lung cancer. It was a total shock to our whole family, and the outlook wasn’t good. Steven did really well with chemo for a long time, but around September and October of 2018, things started taking a turn for the worse. Doctors eventually discovered he had also developed brain cancer, and by the end of October, they told him there was nothing more they could do. Steven started hospice care, and just a few weeks later, on November 11, 2018, he passed away [3].
Losing Steven was absolutely heartbreaking. But it also inspired me to do something positive to honor his memory. You see, Steven loved video games – it was a way for him to relax and have fun with friends and family. So I decided I wanted to run my own charity gaming event, with the Prevent Cancer Foundation as the beneficiary. It was my way of celebrating Steven’s life and giving back in his honor.
Turning the Idea into Reality
Around September 2018, I started reaching out to some of my gaming friends to let them know about my plan. I told them I wanted to run a multi-day charity marathon, and that the proceeds would go to the Prevent Cancer Foundation – in memory of my cousin Steven. Needless to say, they were 100% on board to help make it happen [4].
There was a lot of stress and uncertainty leading up to the event, though. First of all, losing Steven while I was in the thick of planning added a huge emotional weight. I was constantly worried that things wouldn’t work out – whether it was technical issues, low turnout, or failing to reach my fundraising goals. Even the night before the stream, I was up late with friends putting the final touches on everything [5].
But when the first day of the marathon kicked off on December 7, 2018, it ended up being a huge success right out of the gate. We raised close to $1,000 in that very first day, which had been my original goal for the entire 3-day event! Things just kept getting better from there [6].
An Unexpectedly Generous Outpouring of Support
On the second day of the marathon, we hit our initial $1,000 goal again. So I decided to bump up the target and see how much further we could push it. That’s when we got an amazing surprise – a very generous donor had agreed to match donations up to $1,000!
Then, during the 9pm timeslot on Saturday, another one of my streamer friends, NintendoCapriSun, announced that he would also be matching donations up to $1,000 during his segment. In just a couple hours, we had an extra $2,000 donated thanks to those incredible matching gifts [7]!
The momentum just kept building from there. On the final day, one of my other streamer friends, FaronHeights, came up with a creative donation incentive – viewers could pay to mess him up in the game he was playing. That little stunt ended up raising a ton of additional funds. I honestly had to keep updating the donation goal every 20 minutes because we just kept blowing past each new target [8].
Reflecting on an Unforgettable Experience
When the 3-day marathon finally came to a close around 4am on Sunday, I was absolutely blown away. We had managed to raise over $5,500 for the Prevent Cancer Foundation! I couldn’t believe it. At one point during the planning, I had thought $500 would be a decent goal. Then when we set it to $1,000, I was convinced that was way too high. But the incredible generosity of the gaming community proved me wrong, in the most amazing way.
The biggest lesson I learned from this experience is the importance of having the right people in your corner. The Prevent Cancer Foundation was so helpful and supportive from the very first phone call. And my friends – the streamers, artists, and moderators who jumped in to volunteer their time and talents – they’re the ones who really made this whole thing possible. I’m forever grateful for their dedication and passion [9].
But beyond the logistical support, what really drove this whole endeavor was the motivation behind it. Losing Steven to cancer was devastating, but I knew I wanted to honor his memory in a positive way. Steven loved gaming and having fun with friends and family. So rather than focusing on the sadness of his passing, I tried to celebrate the joy and connection that gaming brought to his life.
In the end, this wasn’t about me raising $5,500 single-handedly. It was a group effort, fueled by the incredible goodwill of the gaming community. I can’t wait to do this all over again in 2019, and keep spreading the message that gaming and philanthropy don’t have to be mutually exclusive – in fact, the two can come together in powerful and inspiring ways.
