The European Speedrunner Assembly (ESA) is currently hosting its winter speedrunning event in partnership with Make-A-Wish International, to raise funds and grant wishes to children with critical illnesses.
Focusing on gaming and fundraising, the event is being held via livestream and on-site in Sweden from February 17 to February 24. Players are aiming to beat various games in record time, and viewers can show their support by participating or donating during the weeklong event.
Extending a helping hand
This winter event marks the first collaboration between ESA and Make-A-Wish International, following the ESA’s previous charity work last year which raised $200,000 for Alzheimer’s research. Make-A-Wish, on the other hand, granted over 19,500 wishes to children in 2023, with more than 5,000 of those being game and entertainment-related.
Over 2,000 people are expected to watch the event online, while hundreds will attend in person. Aside from donating to support the charity, money spent during speedruns can impact the games being played – from naming characters to introducing new challenges.
“We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Make-A-Wish International. ESA Winter is a festival where gamers and the community come together. By leveraging video games and speed, we aim to raise funds for children living with critical illnesses. It’s heartbreaking to see the struggles of these kids. If we can make a small difference by helping them fulfill their wishes, it means a lot to us,” said ESA organizer Ida Lidholt.
Make-A-Wish International president and CEO Luciano Manzo said: “Children undergoing treatment for critical illness can experience anxiety, loss of hope, and isolation from friends and loved ones. 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,” Manzo added.
The event’s online portion is being streamed on Twitch.
