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The European Speedrunner Assembly held an esports event in Malmö, Sweden last week, where players put their skills to the test to raise money for Make-A-Wish International, a group dedicated to fulfilling wishes for children living with critical illnesses.
Speedrunners are highly-skilled players that attempt to beat time trial records in popular video games. In this case there were also additional wrinkles to the challenge, as viewers watching both in-person and online could donate to add a variety of extra restrictions and stipulations to the players trying to accomplish their speedy gaming goals.
In total, around 400 speedrunners took part in the interactive fundraiser event, and £67,189 GBP ($85,000 USD) was raised, which will soon be put to good use by Make-A-Wish to bring comfort and happiness to children that really need it.
“We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Make-A-Wish International,” said Ida Lidholt, an organiser from the European Speedrunner Assembly. “ESA Winter is a festival where gamers and the community unite. Through videogames and speed, we level up to raise funds for children suffering from critical illnesses. We are so proud to announce a total of $85,000 raised to help grant wishes. We are so grateful to our gamers and the community for uniting behind this very worthy cause.”
“Children undergoing treatment for critical illness can experience anxiety, loss of hope, and isolation from friends and loved ones,” said Luciano Manzo, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish International. “For many of these children, gaming offers them a sense of escape, helps them connect with friends and distracts them from their long and often difficult treatment journeys. That’s why gaming and entertainment wishes are so popular among wish children. The funds raised from ESA Winter 2024 will help continue to grant these types of wishes and many others. We are so grateful to ESA and the gaming community for helping make wishes come true with this event.”
If you’d like to learn more about Make-A-Wish, you can do that over on their website.
