On his 12th birthday, while Cameron McArthur was recovering from a spinal surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, staff surprised him with a gift. The now 23-year-old said he still remembers unwrapping the Pac-Man mini arcade machine.

That small gesture from Sick Kids is one of the many reasons McArthur now volunteers at the Toronto chapter of Extra Life, an organization helping to fundraise for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the love of gaming.

“I want to give back because the hospital helped me so much in the past,” he said.

This weekend, the organization raised over $30,000 in support of Sick Kids in its second annual, 25-hour gaming marathon.

“For these kids, they really are so disconnected from everyone. But when they’re gaming, they can go online and feel connected to a broader community,” said Tara Oliphant, a representative from the Children’s Miracle Network team to the crowd of gamers on Saturday.

Oliphant thanked participants for helping to make Sick Kids “not just a hospital, but a really magical place.” She acknowledged the power of gaming to help young patients cope with pain and loneliness.

Video game junkies converged at Raiders E-Sports Centre, near St. Clair Ave. W. and Yonge St., for 25 hours from noon Saturday to the marathon’s conclusion at noon Sunday (the event spanned 25 hours thanks to an extra hour gained with the end of daylight savings).

Participants were invited to dive into virtual reality gaming experiences, classic board games like Monopoly, and cult favourites like the Legend of Zelda. Similar events were hosted across North America to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

Raiders E-Sports Centre donated its gaming space for the event, and participants were invited to enter for raffle prizes or hourly giveaways for gaming treasures like exclusive collectibles and Xbox Ones provided by event sponsors.

Money raised at the event will be used to support areas in need at the hospital, from medical research to equipment repair and the purchase of new machines, according to an Extra Life press release.

Using gaming as a way to connect with other patients and fundraise is important for Extra Life volunteer McArthur, who was born with the genetic disorder Neurofibromatosis.

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“I’m a former Sick Kids patient so I have an understanding of what other kids are going through,” said McArthur, whose condition resulted in severe sclerosis (curvature of the spine) and small tumours to grow throughout his body. He underwent two surgeries and multiple body x-rays at Sick Kids.

“People are really interested in gaming for a cause,” said volunteer Raymond Garcia, who was joined by two friends for the event. “I find it’s the best way I can raise money and support, and it gives me an excuse to play games.”

With files from Vjosa Isai