Friends Max Major and Darryl Heater posted another big score this weekend for children’s charities.
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The duo’s 10th annual 24-hour video-gaming marathon wrapped up Saturday at Imperial City Brew House, raising more than $10,000 for St. Clair Child and Youth Services.
Helped by proceeds from a Magic: The Gathering card tournament on site, John’s Restaurant selling brunch, and from a $5,000 Suncor donation, the 10th and final Playing for Charity tally pushes the Black Friday tradition’s cumulative total to more than $50,000, Major said.
“It’s incredible,” he said Saturday afternoon, less than an hour away from the figurative final credits rolling.
Latter years have become tougher as the players leveled up in age, he said — he’s now in his mid-30s — but no one has ever fallen asleep.
“I’m proud of that,” Major said.
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Fueled by caffeine and significant engagement from people following online, he said, this year’s group — Levi Webb and Aaron Cooper were players three and four — lounged their way through the latest NHL game; Until Dawn as this year’s scary, overnight title; Mario Party; Super Smash Bros., and various others.
Playing as Sarnia Sting players against a computer-controlled Team Canada in NHL games has been a yearly tradition, Major said, noting the underdogs have only won once.
“We got slaughtered this year,” he said with a laugh, putting the score at around six or seven to nothing.
The gamers have moved their couch over the years to several local events -from Lambton Mall, to Heater’s basement amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and Sarnia craft brewery Imperial City for the last three, Major said.
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Funding recipients have included Noelle’s Gift and Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as local mental healthcare provider St. Clair Child and Youth Services, he said.
“We’re all so overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement for 10 years of such an incredible community initiative,” said St. Clair’s Danielle Cooper.
This year’s finale also featured a Playstation 5 giveaway, and a free Friday concert from local band Action Figures to help draw donations, Major said.
Plans are now to find other ways to raise money, he said, also thanking donors for their generosity.
“We’ve got some irons in the fire for ideas,” he said.
After 10 years, powering down this event seems right, he said.
“Raising $50,000 over 10 years feels really good,” he said. “We’ll find new, silly ways to raise money through our hobbies for the charities we care about locally.”
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