The Engineering and Physics Club at McLennan Community College recently hosted it's 3rd annual 24-hour gaming event to benefit a local hospital.
"It gives you a reason to game, which you were going to do anyway, but at least now it's for a good cause," said Victoria LaBarre, president of the MCC Engineering and Physics Club.
People of all ages showed up to play board games, video-console games, computer games and more.
"To get into the event itself, it was just a dollar and every tournament you wanted to enter was $5," said LaBarre.
There was even a VIP room where the event's sponsor, Oasis Games, set up an Oculus Rift which is used for virtual reality.
"It was like the most wonderful thing I ever experienced," said Crea Armstead, member of the MCC Engineering and Physics Club. "It gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling knowing that you're doing it for a good cause."
This event raises money through Extra Life, an organization that unites thousands of gamers around the world to play games in support of their local Children's Miracle Network Hospital.
"We chose Baylor Scott and White Children's Hospital in Temple," said LaBarre. "They cover a huge area and they're a more recent hospital that still needs to grow. So any money that goes to them is going to help to expand the hospital and even improve some of the equipment."
"Two of the nurses came down and showed us a thank you video from one of the girls who wanted to come really bad but she couldn't for health reasons," said Armstead.
The 24-hour gaming marathon lasted from 8 a.m. on Oct. 27 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 28. The event raised nearly $1,500 in donations but the club is hoping to bring in, even more, money by Nov. 4.
"Most gamers want to help people and they do want to at least show like 'look I'm doing something legit,'" said LaBarre. "It's really fun and I get to help people."
If you would like to donate to the cause, click here.
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