Video games like The Evil Within and Alien: Isolation revolve around dark themes and for the most part, death. Some HHS students, however, have used those video games to help save lives.

“Everyone involved was basically up for a 24 hour live stream, playing video games,” said Edwing Hernandez-Perez, junior.

A live stream is when a screenplay of video game play is shared on the internet while it is happening. Randy Marchione, junior, set up the live stream on twitch.com so people could tune in and watch online.

“It was surprising how easy it was to set [the live stream] up,” Marchione said. “I just made an account with twitch.com to put up the live stream and then an account with extra-life.org to set up the donations.”

Extra-life.org is a website devoted to using video games to save lives.

“[Extra-life.org] is great at getting people to donate towards great causes. It blends the love for gaming and the desire to help kids in need,” Marchione said.

All donations are going to Gillette Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, specifically to help young children with cancer, cystic fibrosis, and injuries from accidents.

“We tried to show [people who were watching the live stream] that we were just having fun. Some donated just because they thought we were funny,” Hernandez-Perez said.

Donations were done through an online funds transfer on extra-life.org. A “Donate Here” link is set up on Marchione’s profile on the website.

At first, the total donations only totaled only $48. Many of the players thought it seemed as though their goal of $1,000 would be impossible.

“Then we started receiving pledges from people who weren’t able to donate to our cause right away,” Marchione said. “We received $488 in pledges that have all now been fully paid as promised.”

Still quite a distance away from their goal, the players involved remain optimistic about their success in their first charity live stream.

“We were just having fun, messing around, and, at the same time, raising money,” Hernandez-Perez said. “We really didn’t know what to expect.”

Marchione has high expectations for his charity live streams in the future.

“Another one will be coming soon, so I really need to get the HHS community involved,” Marchione said.

Many wouldn’t immediately think video games are a way to help sick and injured children, but Marchione, Hernandez-Perez, and other HHS students have made it possible.

“If people like, or even if they don’t, they should donate because this money is going toward helping kids who have cancer and other illnesses,” Hernandez-Perez said. “A great cause is a great cause no matter how it’s carried out.”