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Local Gamers Prep for Extra Life Game Day This Weekend

Local gamers of all levels and from all categories — including console, mobile, PC and table top — will unite for one cause on Saturday, Nov. 3: to save and improve the lives of kids treated at Penn State Children’s Hospital.

The gamers are participating in Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraising program. Gamers register at Extra-Life.org and share their fundraising page link with family and friends to collect donations all year long and on game day.

While some gamers prefer to play on their own, a group of local gamers will attempt to play games for 24 hours straight at Play N Trade in Camp Hill (3437 Simpson Ferry Road) beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3 through 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. To cheer them on, current and former patients of Penn State Children’s Hospital will game with the participants from 5 to 7 p.m., during “Miracle Child Power Hours” sponsored by Giant Food Stores.

Across North America, the Extra Life game day marathon is expected to involve 50,000 gamers fundraising for 170 CMN Hospitals. Extra Life partners with some of the largest names in the gaming industry including Twitch, Rooster Teeth, reddit, Wizards of the Coast, Humble Bundle, ESA Foundation, XSplit and Trion Worlds. While anyone can participate, many expert gamers and broadcasters live-stream their play and earn donations from followers. Extra Life raised $11.1 million in 2017, including $44,158 for Penn State Children’s Hospital.

Penn State Children’s Hospital patient Christopher Drake will join gamers at Play N Trade from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Hospital staff used the playroom games as an incentive to help Christopher get up and move after his brain surgery. Regaining mobility helped Christopher recover more quickly.