tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13593227669067120512024-03-05T17:01:37.315-07:00Kyle4orKidsbamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-51531516049931233442015-11-08T00:01:00.003-07:002015-11-08T00:01:47.793-07:00FINAL TALLY, PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED AND A COUPLE PARTING THOUGHTSThe 2015 Extra Life Video Game Marathon is in the books for my nephew and I. It was a bit of a quiet day today, but we still managed to collect a total of $275us in donations for the Alberta Children's Hospital. That's like $1400 cdn right??? Ha, I only wish.<br />
<br />
While we didn't reach our goal set, I can't help but be pleased with the response from so many people willing to donate to this great cause. It's that time of year when people pinch the wallets just a little tighter, this past year hasn't been glowing in terms of the Canadian economy and there are a huge number of terrific charities to gravitate towards. Yes, part of this journey is about raising money, but part of it is also about awareness. I would like to hope that there are a few more people out there now who know what Extra Life is and that there are some dedicated gamers out there raising money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals out there.<br />
<br />
Now....on to the prizes.<br />
<br />
I made the executive decision to open up all prizes to everyone. For every $5 donated, your name would go in a hat and a little over an hour ago my nephew drew the winning names. <br />
<br />
Anne was the winner of the Fluxx card game (donated by Eastridge Hobbies)<br />
Dave was the winner of the movie passes (donated by Landmark Cinemas)<br />
Dave was also the winner of the "As Heard On TV" tickets (donated by the Calgary Philharmonic)<br />
Jamie was the winner of the 10-game punch card (donated by the Okotoks Dawgs)<br />
Bryna was the winner of the Atari Flashback Console (donated by Visions Electronics)<br />
<br />
Congratulations to all the winners. I will be in contact with you to make sure you receive your prize.<br />
<br />
<br />
Lastly, I'd like to say that even though the marathon gaming day might be over, you can still donate to this cause through Kyle's Extra Life page until the end of the year. We'd love to see that total go up a little bit more so if you have a chance - fantastic.<br />
<br />
Thank you again. Have a great rest of the weekend.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-90122389971266975882015-11-07T22:47:00.001-07:002015-11-07T22:47:22.874-07:00THE MARATHON IS OVERA real quick update. The video game marathon is over and we have raised $275us for the Alberta Children's Hospital. Thank you all who donated.<br />
<br />
We have just completed the draws for the prizes and I will be announcing the winners shortly.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-27688331950366924222015-11-07T18:25:00.001-07:002015-11-07T18:25:57.592-07:00AFTER DINNER....BACK AT 'EROne of the important aspects of any video game marathon session is proper breaks. Dinnertime and some prime roast beef not only provided a solid break from gaming, but has left me in full nap mode after the fact.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My nephew on the other hand is upstairs in the gaming room playing away.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With less than 4 hours to go until the end of the marathon, we are still looking for a few more donations to get us to our goal. It might be looking a little loftier now than before......but you don't know if you can get to it unless you try.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We still have giveaways to make - those will be determined today, but you can still donate this weekend, next week or next month. Donations for the 2015 Extra Life campaign go until the end of the calendar year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Who knows, maybe we will hit our goal after all.</div>
bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-26316310123525146542015-11-07T16:39:00.001-07:002015-11-07T16:39:30.416-07:00QUICK UPDATE MID-GAMEOver watching my nephew play some video games. Past the halfway mark of this marathon day. He looks good to go. I need a nap.<br />
<br />
We are head to head in Mortal Kombat. Classic.<br />
<br />
We are at $240 raised for the Alberta Children's Hospital. Nice job everyone. But we've got a ways to go to hit our total.<br />
<br />
Prizes are sitting, ready to be won. If you'd like a chance, all you have to do is donate.<br />
<br />
Time to "Finish Him!!!" My nephew's going down.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-27758475488074322512015-11-07T10:02:00.002-07:002015-11-07T10:02:22.511-07:00THE 2015 VIDEO GAME MARATHON HAS BEGUN!!!Well the day is finally here. Extra Life 2015 Video Game Marathon Day is now in full force.<br />
<br />
I just texted with my nephew who has been playing now for a couple hours (since 8am our time) and will be plowing through until 10:00 tonight.<br />
<br />
And he's doing it to raise money all for the Alberta Children's Hospital.<br />
<br />
We've got a $700us fundraising goal and are already past the 25% mark thanks to some early donations and the proceeds from a 50/50 hockey pool. Thanks very much in advance to those who have already given.<br />
<br />
We are also very excited today because we will be giving away some great gifts in hopes to garner even more awareness and funds.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned throughout the day for updates. I will be heading over to "gaming central" - aka my nephew's house - for a day full of fun and fundraising.<br />
<br />
Thanks!bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-72437745978866388272015-11-01T13:09:00.005-07:002015-11-01T13:09:42.446-07:00GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCEMENTSYikes!! How quickly the month has come and gone. It's been a busy one for me and I've had little time to get to these updates.<br />
<br />
Sorry for not doing another round of the Hockey Pool. Thank you to everyone who participated. <br />
<br />
Today I'd like to take a moment to announce some terrific giveaways that we will be.....giving away on November 7 as part of the video game marathon. We want to drum up as much support and donations as possible and to help as incentives, we've got some loot to hand out next Saturday.<br />
<br />
Let's take a look......<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEXhyphenhyphenGVdatQwSZE1ve4mIOogCpTgeMw96Lu7_cgiTemxoj2G1OhEZBG6mBqC45j-BqFlDk3mS8-eaxQyTXUv3O_kUcULV2dZGI9q1GPwl3a3SIut12DzSaLOb3Y6qyAZ3HyjG3rvl8eA/s1600/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEXhyphenhyphenGVdatQwSZE1ve4mIOogCpTgeMw96Lu7_cgiTemxoj2G1OhEZBG6mBqC45j-BqFlDk3mS8-eaxQyTXUv3O_kUcULV2dZGI9q1GPwl3a3SIut12DzSaLOb3Y6qyAZ3HyjG3rvl8eA/s320/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2 Red Carpet Movie Passes and</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2 Regular Popcorns</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>(Landmark Cinemas)</b></div>
<br />
The fine folks at Landmark Cinemas have generously donated a couple of movie passes and two bags of popcorn. C'mon....who doesn't like a movie???<br />
<br />
Landmark Cinemas is sort of my "backyard movie theatre". It's super close to my work and I've been popping over there for years. They have a great setup and are always accommodating. Thank you very much to Leila and the team at the Shawnessy location for providing this giveaway that can be used at any Landmark Cinemas location.....so if you're not in Calgary, that's ok. You can still win something.<br />
<br />
<b>The value of this package is $40.00</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvi1cRkIHso6OLlCsO4UWlN6nM3NgyUR55qgQzd6q8DBhUN8m_392VJCOqzFFF3JcO_mqDdCM3GbEcpzcdlMkvkRUZJamp146xfXMlPmhWZxwEDCo3hfJyTxLcJWqvk1OCK6zvRRO4EI/s1600/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvi1cRkIHso6OLlCsO4UWlN6nM3NgyUR55qgQzd6q8DBhUN8m_392VJCOqzFFF3JcO_mqDdCM3GbEcpzcdlMkvkRUZJamp146xfXMlPmhWZxwEDCo3hfJyTxLcJWqvk1OCK6zvRRO4EI/s320/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2016 Okotoks Dawgs Mini-Pack</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>(Okotoks Dawgs Baseball)</b></div>
<br />
For the past few years, I have been a huge fan of the Okotoks Dawgs baseball program. They are a summer college team participating in the WMBL. To go out to Okotoks and take in a game is nothing short of tremendous. The atmosphere of the ballpark is such a throwback....it's addicting.<br />
<br />
And the action is great. I've yet to see a game where there hasn't been either a great diving pay, long bomb home run, or fantastic pitching performance.<br />
<br />
This Mini-Pack entitles you to 10 tickets to any regular season game. You can go to 10 by yourself, you and a friend can go to 5 games or you can get a big group of 10 together and have a fun day out at the park. However you want to work it.<br />
<br />
But make sure to not wait until gametime to get your tickets.....it's a hot item.<br />
<br />
Huge thank you to Ryan and the Okotoks Dawgs organization for this amazing donation.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The value of this package is $110.00</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlSj2UzK0gOTOuUbluTOQCAXgANsslltfZDAGBHvg19uKt4xJ7aZRGqXKy99eD_bAlt-7c_2MnGi0u3_qqiAU1yM3dYCTYE0QexitjkUNoo8BIgk7k0iiJ1lnHUCxBBYMmEZbvX4KWD8/s1600/FullSizeRender-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlSj2UzK0gOTOuUbluTOQCAXgANsslltfZDAGBHvg19uKt4xJ7aZRGqXKy99eD_bAlt-7c_2MnGi0u3_qqiAU1yM3dYCTYE0QexitjkUNoo8BIgk7k0iiJ1lnHUCxBBYMmEZbvX4KWD8/s320/FullSizeRender-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2 Tickets to "As Heard On TV" Performance</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>(Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra)</b></div>
<br />
The CPO has quickly become a favourite organization of mine. My niece is in the high school marching band and so her attraction to orchestra performances has grown over the past couple of years.<br />
<br />
I discovered that the CPO has an amazing program for students called "CPOssibilities" which allows younger fans to take in performances at heavily discounted prices. What a great way to introduce and generate younger fans. Love it!!<br />
<br />
If you have never been to a performance, it really is quite breathtaking. The power and precision of these world-class musicians is inspiring. And I'm thrilled to have been given this pair of tickets to share with you.<br />
<br />
Paige and the team at CPO have been very gracious to donate a pair of prime seats (Orchestra Pit center) to this June 4, 2016 performance. It's a more contemporary performance showcasing TV themes. I know it'll be a fun time.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>The value of this package is $150.00</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84I7XBP3cPOcYZkKfYFQqB9us-ezrMF16KNycJVWZslDkoakQvPTm3_G0Jho2nvE5SmBaTxAC5OJEEbHEcPqFTUJ900w8_5Ul99PwBX2Eg4DQThXwlqJEHg3kkSAy_p6hvqlaciz7_9I/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84I7XBP3cPOcYZkKfYFQqB9us-ezrMF16KNycJVWZslDkoakQvPTm3_G0Jho2nvE5SmBaTxAC5OJEEbHEcPqFTUJ900w8_5Ul99PwBX2Eg4DQThXwlqJEHg3kkSAy_p6hvqlaciz7_9I/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Fluxx Card Game</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Regular Show version</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>(Eastridge Hobbies)</b></div>
<br />
For those who follow my other blog, you will undoubtedly know that I am a hockey card guy. And part of my hobby routine is going to trade nights every month. It's a great way to get together and just have fun in an environment with others who share the same passion.<br />
<br />
One of the local shops I go to is Eastridge Hobbies. The guys there are great and really make it a fun time. I've gotten to know Doug and Mikey more over the years and they are always there to help out whenever needed.<br />
<br />
When I asked if they'd be interested in donating a card game to my nephew's cause, they simply said "absolutely". I can't thank them enough.<br />
<br />
Now, I've never played this particular card game, but it does look fun. There are many different shows depicted in the Fluxx series and I decided to go with Regular Show. The game is for 2-6 players, ages 8+ and takes anywhere from 10-40 mins. to play.<br />
<br />
<b>The value of this package is $21.00</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUniRuWLTzfekB68CF9nzC_VYC30of-9tb2S9LyxgLQvSilSlMtVp4Tlrk2XUjENyFcSWKlJM0R071oghIaYukF7hPVNPsxPIQ3dSWpLN4XrcZ9qSMnaqKD87Qa_o0jgE4S11bfa4opg/s1600/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUniRuWLTzfekB68CF9nzC_VYC30of-9tb2S9LyxgLQvSilSlMtVp4Tlrk2XUjENyFcSWKlJM0R071oghIaYukF7hPVNPsxPIQ3dSWpLN4XrcZ9qSMnaqKD87Qa_o0jgE4S11bfa4opg/s320/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Atari Flashback 5 (92 Games)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Classic Game Console</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>(Visions Electronics)</b></div>
<br />
When I first thought about securing some giveaways, I knew I had to do something video game related. After all, this is a video game marathon. I've always been a fan of the retro games and have seen this system in the past. It was my mission to land one of these consoles.<br />
<br />
Visions Electronics stepped up to the plate....and I really appreciate it. Tyler and the guys at the South location in Calgary are top notch to deal with and were happy to help me out.<br />
<br />
This console looks jam packed. 92 games including classics like Centipede, Space Invaders and my all-time favourite Atari game - Yars Revenge. You get two controllers and two paddles. It's a simple setup and doesn't need any batteries. Plug it in and go.<br />
<br />
<b>***NOTE: We are going to do something a little different for this giveaway. Check down below for details.***</b><br />
<br />
<b>The value of this package is $90.00</b><br />
<br />
<br />
Amazing stuff!!! Thank you very much again to the groups that have been very helpful and generous in their efforts. It is much appreciated.<br />
<br />
So....how do you get a chance at winning one of these packages?<br />
<br />
Simple - just donate.<br />
<br />
There is a link on the right hand side of this blog which will take you to Kyle's donation page. For every $5 you donate, your name will be entered once in the draw for prizes. So if you donate $20....that's 4 entries. $50 is 10. The more you donate, the better your chances are.<br />
<br />
The best part is that your donation will go to the Alberta Children's Hospital. How awesome is that?!!<br />
<br />
I realize some of these prizes are limited to certain locations. If you are from out-of-town (Calgary) and do end up winning a prize, I will do my best to contact you in order to work something out. At the end of the day, I'd love to get these giveaways into the hands of generous donators who might be able to actually use them. <br />
<br />
And for the Atari console giveaway, I'm going to limit this one to the "under 18" crowd. That's right!! If you are a friend of my nephew's or have kids under the age of 18.....you're odds just got a whole lot better. So tell your friends and get saving.<br />
<br />
We will be using the honor system on this one. If you donate and your donation is on behalf of a youth, please indicate "Atari" in the donation comments section. That way I will know who to enter for this exclusive prize. As well, if you see my nephew in person, you can always donate through him (or me for that matter). Just fire me a message via the comments and we can figure it out. Thanks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned on November 7 and we will be giving these prizes out throughout the day. Should be a fun time.<br />
<br />
Now, for the Atari console, we are bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-77907070319948905142015-10-16T01:37:00.001-06:002015-10-16T01:37:21.786-06:0050/50 KNOCKOUT POOL - Payment Made, Thank You Very Much, How About Another??I made the trip out to drop off the winning funds from the hockey pool to the highly skilled winner. Congratulations Dave. Six for six...what can I say.<br />
<br />
Actually, what I did say is "That went way too quick....I should do another".<br />
<br />
And so, I think I will.<br />
<br />
I'll have details on Monday, but it'll essentially be a "restart". You can keep the picks you've already made (and therefore just pay the entry fee) or you can change your picks via the modified entry form (which will be made available Monday). Either way, it'll be a second chance to prove your hockey IQ is tops.<br />
<br />
And it'll be a second chance to raise some funds for the Alberta Children's Hospital.<br />
<br />
With the donation made tonight, we are at 20% of our $700us goal. An awesome start to this fundraising campaign. Thank you all very much.<br />
<br />
<br />
And.....make sure you stay tuned to this blog over the next week for yet another reason. I'll give you a hint:<br />
<br />
GIVEAWAYS!!!!!!<br />
<br />
I'll have more details soon but what I can share is that I have received some spectacular gifts from various companies and organizations that will be passed along to YOU - the very generous donors out there who will make this fundraising effort a huge success.<br />
<br />
We are gearing up for an epic video game marathon on Saturday, November 7. Should be fun.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-86405038347794412452015-10-12T23:56:00.001-06:002015-10-12T23:56:18.208-06:0050/50 KNOCKOUT POOL - We Have A Winner!!!Well, I neglected to update things on Sunday because there was no winner - although we were knocked down to our final two.<br />
<br />
Monday was the first true head-to-head night and it only took tonight's action to give us our final result.<br />
<br />
Both Dave and Dan had gone 5-for-5 up to this point (an incredible task considering most didn't get past night one) and Dave's pick of the New York Islanders (his fave team) got him through one more time.<br />
<br />
It was then up to Dan for the late game in which Vancouver met up with Anaheim. He chose the Ducks....a solid choice - after all, they did get further in the playoffs last season and come in as the stronger team.<br />
<br />
But you play the games for a reason.<br />
<br />
The Canucks, led by stellar goaltending from Ryan Miller, held the game tied 1-1 through to a shootout. Vancouver took the extra point and Dan was eliminated.<br />
<br />
So it a hearty congratulations to Dave who is the winner of the $85 pot. You will hear from me tomorrow regarding payment.<br />
<br />
The other half of the total money will be donated to the Alberta Children's Hospital through Kyle's Extra Life donation page (which you can find on the right hand side of the screen). And at the end of the day, that's the real winner.<br />
<br />
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to participate. Had I'd known things would have progressed so quickly, I would have modified things a bit. But I really appreciate each of you taking the time to fill out an entry (or in Dave and Dan's case - five).<br />
<br />
Nicely done Dave!bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-3169761213511551882015-10-09T23:18:00.002-06:002015-10-09T23:18:11.626-06:0050/50 KNOCKOUT POOL - Day 3Way to go Los Angeles. Knocked almost everyone out with one fell swoop.<br />
<br />
The Kings were easily defeated by the Arizona Coyotes and we lost 8 more entries in our 50/50 Knockout Pool. I have a feeling we will be crowning a winner before the end of the long weekend.<br />
<br />
Sorry guys for having you go though all that work filling out a month's worth of picks. I guess a week's worth would have sufficed.<br />
<br />
<b>3 entries remain</b><br />
<br />
And when I say 3 entries.....I really mean 2 people - since two of the entries remaining are from the same person. It's head-to-head time.<br />
<br />
And I can guarantee that we will not crown a winner tomorrow since all three chose Washington to win. So I'll be back Sunday to update - and possibly announce a winner.<br />
<br />
<br />
Dave.....you're still in.<br />
Dan....you've got two left in the race.<br />
<br />
<br />
Good luck guys.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-35957386731419970042015-10-08T21:56:00.004-06:002015-10-08T21:56:47.565-06:0050/50 KNOCKOUT POOL - Day 2There were more games on tap tonight, and with that - more options. <br />
<br />
That might have been the reason why we only knocked out 3 more from this 50/50 pool.<br />
<br />
Minnesota, with it's crazy third period comeback, gave us our final numbers for the night. And when the dust settled we had most moving forward.<br />
<br />
<b>11 entries remain.</b><br />
<br />
Can we get through the long weekend? Will this thing end before it really even begins? I don't even think Washington has played yet?<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for nightly updates until we have a winner.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-88655059398128168872015-10-07T23:40:00.001-06:002015-10-07T23:44:31.687-06:0050/50 KNOCKOUT POOL - DAY 1The puck has dropped on a new hockey season and that means the Kyle 4or Kids 50/50 NHL Knockout Pool has officially begun.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I just want to sincerely thank all of you who decided to participate. I received 40 entries in total, some as an individual "one-off" and a few took the big plunge and went for the "5 for $20" option. The 40 entries total $170 which means that $85 will be forwarded to the Kyle 4or Kids fundraiser. All of that money will be going to the Alberta Children's Hospital. THANK YOU!!!<br />
<br />
NOTE: I just did the currency conversion. Ugh. $85cdn=$65us Better than nothing though.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That leaves the other $85 which is up for grabs starting tonight.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There were a number of people commenting that the first night was a tough one...and that held true big time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So how did you all do? About two-thirds of the entries have already been knocked out. YIKES!!! We might have a winner by the weekend if things continue this way.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>14 entries remain</b>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With seven games on tap Thursday, we are sure to lose a few more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stay tuned to this blog for daily updates until we crown a winner.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks very much again for taking the time to participate.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-68035963225396409932015-09-28T22:36:00.001-06:002015-10-07T23:41:00.002-06:0050/50 NHL KNOCKOUT POOLWell, it has begun.<br />
<br />
The first donation came in tonight (after my toss-in of a few bucks to get the ball rolling). Thanks very much Kevin for donating once again to this great cause.<br />
<br />
I'd like to announce a fun little hockey pool that hopefully will drum up some more cash for this cause.<br />
<br />
It is a knockout pool where you choose teams you think will win on each night of the season. There is a month's worth of games and you have to choose just a single winner for each night of action.<br />
<br />
If you pick a winner on the first night....you move on to the second night. If you lose....you're knocked out. Last person standing - wins.<br />
<br />
This is a 50/50 pool with half of the money going to Kyle 4or Kids' effort in reaching his fundraising goal. The other half goes to the winner. The more people who enter, the more the prize money will be.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in learning more about the pool, please leave a comment in this post with you e-mail and I can forward you the info.<br />
<br />
Thanks for your time.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-28120214532547477502015-09-27T15:00:00.002-06:002015-09-27T15:00:42.581-06:00A CHANGE FOR CANADIAN DONORSI've been getting a few things organized for the upcoming month. Going to try a couple of different things this year to try and entice a few more donations. I'm also looking to secure a couple of giveaway prizes as a THANK YOU to everyone who contributes.<br />
<br />
In doing some research, I've noticed a couple things I thought I should share (things that have changed since last year).<br />
<br />
Donations are in US funds. So please consider that when choosing your amount - especially to those in Canada where the dollar is definitely not what it was last year.<br />
<br />
There is an <a href="http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1221">information sheet</a> on the Extra Life website to answer questions for Canadian donors. There is also a <a href="http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1103">general FAQ sheet</a> to answer any questions you may have regarding this fundraiser.<br />
<br />
And if you have any additional questions that you can't find an answer to, feel free to send me a comment and I'll do my best to help out.<br />
<br />
Thanks!<br />
<br />
<br />bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-19737434389700445252015-09-26T23:49:00.003-06:002015-09-26T23:49:39.826-06:00BACK FOR 2015!!!The decision has been made. Actually...the decision was made a few moments after the completion of last year's successful first attempt at our Extra Life fundraising campaign.<br />
<br />
My nephew Kyle completed his 24 hour video game marathon with flying colors. He just missed his fundraising goal of $500 - but c'mon....$440 is nothing to sneeze at.<br />
<br />
That's right - thanks to all of you who donated, we raised $440 for the Alberta Children's Hospital. And 100% of the donations make it to their destination.<br />
<br />
Game day is set for Saturday, November 7, 2015 and so we begin our quest once again.<br />
<br />
For those of you who were kind enough to donate last year - THANK YOU!!! We will be bugging you soon again. :)<br />
<br />
For those of you new to this site, you can take a moment to read some of the past blog posts, and venture over to www.extra-life.org for more information on this fantastic cause.<br />
<br />
When you're done, feel free to click on the link to the right showing you where you can donate...and help reach our even loftier goal this year.<br />
<br />
$700 is the mark Kyle has set. A considerable increase...but we are both game for the challenge.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned to this blog for regular updates over the next month and a bit. Thanks for stopping by and considering our fundraising.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-62586257391551629802014-10-31T22:16:00.002-06:002014-10-31T22:16:33.159-06:00ONE MORE BUMPThere's no better time to donate than right now.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even though we are a week removed from our video game marathon, there's been a bump to the donations meter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sitting now at $440, we are within reach of the $500 goal. Donations are still being accepted until the end of the year. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tank you very much to those who have donated and those who have taken the time to check out our page.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy Halloween!!!</div>
bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-17048671630440470442014-10-26T21:38:00.001-06:002014-10-26T21:38:04.561-06:00FINAL TALLYThe 2014 Extra Life video game marathon is now over. What an experience.<br />
<br />
This trip began back in the summer when my nephew and I learned about the fundraising efforts of video gamers all over the world raising money for Children's Miracle Network hospitals everywhere. We decided it would be an event we would jump on board with. Something we could do together.<br />
<br />
We spent the next few weeks drumming up support.....and donations. And we are thrilled with the results.<br />
<br />
For the past week, my nephew has been coming home from school and dedicating 2 hours a night towards this marathon - 10 hours total. The on Saturday, October 25 he (and a few of his friends) played a marathon gaming session of 14 hours. 8:00am until 10:00pm local time....giving a grand total of 24 hours.<br />
<br />
He was having so much fun and his efforts didn't go unnoticed. <br />
<br />
After all the numbers were tallied, he raised $390 for the Alberta Children's Hospital. A fantastic effort. And because he surpassed the $200 mark, he will receive the official Extra Life 2014 marathon t-shirt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGBBaTZB9pilque5zKBuzxBFG051jYOvCWa4EEQcHiDHVMkrcHhcOOK7fXX8qRPXv5QosdVpiuWC-DvXjrNDVlQcoCilNIJQCwzKqOzQ-v2fKzHDTLp3_bOpH7kXAW2tk4n4rumZwHZ0/s1600/1391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGBBaTZB9pilque5zKBuzxBFG051jYOvCWa4EEQcHiDHVMkrcHhcOOK7fXX8qRPXv5QosdVpiuWC-DvXjrNDVlQcoCilNIJQCwzKqOzQ-v2fKzHDTLp3_bOpH7kXAW2tk4n4rumZwHZ0/s1600/1391.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
That's pretty sweet.<br />
<br />
But I'd like to share some other final (more bigger picture) numbers to give you a sense of the scale, scope and necessity of what all these gamers are doing.<br />
<br />
Kyle was one of 56 participants playing on Team Extra Life Calgary 2014. That group raised over $15,000 (smashing the goal set of $10,000) and there are still donations trickling in.<br />
<br />
An even bigger look shows that Extra Life gamers all over the world raised over $5 million in 2014.<br />
<br />
Let me repeat that.......<b>$5 million</b>.<br />
<br />
Anyone who thinks video games can't make a difference.......game over.<br />
<br />
My nephew and I would like to once again thank everyone who took a moment to look at what we have done over the past few weeks. We'd like to thank you for the kinds words of support. And we would like to thank those who donated to a great cause.<br />
<br />
We have already decided that we will be back in 2015 looking to make the event bigger and better.<br />
<br />
Have a good one!bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-3093295157982418562014-10-25T22:05:00.000-06:002014-10-25T22:05:29.604-06:00AND THAT'S A WRAP!!!It's 10:00pm local time. We are done and done.<br />
<br />
14 hours of video gaming has come to an end.<br />
<br />
Final tally over the next day or so.<br />
<br />
Time to rest.<br />
<br />
Thanks everyone for the support!!!bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-56011700683418277872014-10-25T17:49:00.000-06:002014-10-25T17:49:08.364-06:00AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!The Atari has been put to bed for the night. I can't believe how long a bunch of Grade 8's played that vintage game.<br />
<br />
After 3 hours of classic fun, the boys raised $15 in quarters (some dimes and nickels too)...all of which will go towards the big goal of $500.<br />
<br />
And I also have a prize to announce. <br />
<br />
Part of the Atari challenge included a High Score board. Three games....three high scores.<br />
<br />
All the top scorer names went in a hat and the host with the most made the draw.<br />
<br />
<b>Congratulations Tristen</b>. Well done. You receive a $20 gift certificate to EB Games.<br />
<br />
Happy gaming!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Still a few hours left to donate. Let's hit that goal!!!bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-79487467236856402152014-10-25T15:25:00.000-06:002014-10-25T15:25:27.108-06:007 Down...7 To GoWe are halfway through the 14-hour marathon video gaming day.<br />
<br />
I thought I'd change things up a bit with an old school Atari session. Complete with a high score board and everything.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuoL451T7kEHJLiELy4RSt3ntqzaHHOn60o6agGOWq0IPsNcMDtc_8DJDooXY2aDocLQmVBwz_tnXVbluPGKJ6BWPDtByb2-Yh5cX_gqX2SoMSDHLJ_v5Iom_0qjZY3vn-mpugBYACDs/s1600/berzerk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuoL451T7kEHJLiELy4RSt3ntqzaHHOn60o6agGOWq0IPsNcMDtc_8DJDooXY2aDocLQmVBwz_tnXVbluPGKJ6BWPDtByb2-Yh5cX_gqX2SoMSDHLJ_v5Iom_0qjZY3vn-mpugBYACDs/s1600/berzerk.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The kids are having a blast....and raising money at the same time.<br />
<br />
It's really quite simple.<br />
<br />
Three games were chosen to be games for the High Score Board. <b>Berzerk</b>, <b>Ms. Pac Man</b> and <b>Space Invaders</b> were chosen.<br />
<br />
The kids take turn playing. They can choose any game they want (I've brought more than 20 over). If they want to try for the High Score Board though, they have to not only play one of the three chosen games.....but put a quarter into the container.<br />
<br />
They play......and if they get the high score, they put their name and score on the board.<br />
<br />
Once the gaming is through, I'll take the names of the three high scorers and put them in a hat. One name will be drawn and the winner will get a prize.<br />
<br />
Sounds fun? Well it is. <br />
<br />
And the best part.....all the quarters raised will be donated towards our $500 goal.<br />
<br />
There's still time to donate. Thanks for taking a moment to check in.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-44016140353500080482014-10-25T13:49:00.002-06:002014-10-25T13:49:36.035-06:00WE'VE HIT $300!!!With a little over eight hours to go, we have hit the $300 fundraising mark. That is fantastic!<br />
<br />
Once again, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to donate. All money raised will go to the Alberta Children's Hospital.<br />
<br />
Let me repeat that...<br />
<br />
ALL MONEY RAISED. 100%.<br />
<br />
All donations are tax deductible as well. So it's like a double bonus.<br />
<br />
Speaking of double bonus....I think I'll head up to the game room and kick my nephew's butt in a little old school Atari. I'm planning on setting up a little "quarter arcade" to see if they can compete with The Master.....1983 version.<br />
<br />
We'll get a few more dollars in donations and I've got a prize for the player who snags the high score on the day.<br />
<br />
Thanks again for all your help today!bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-43539958421524425692014-10-25T10:50:00.002-06:002014-10-25T10:50:18.250-06:00HALFWAY THEREJust a couple hours into our marathon session and we have hit the $250 mark - halfway to our fundraising goal.<br />
<br />
Thank you very much to those who have donated.<br />
<br />
There's still lots of time left and many games to be played.<br />
<br />
Let the good times roll!!!!bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-54967761906081712732014-10-24T23:34:00.001-06:002014-10-24T23:34:13.450-06:00IT'S HERE!!!!!!In a little less than 9 hours, my nephew will begin his marathon day of video gaming to raise awareness (and funds) for the Alberta Children's Hospital. <br />
<br />
While we are a little short on our $500 fundraising goal, we have had some great words of encouragement and have indeed made a difference.<br />
<br />
I'd like to personally thank everyone who has taken a moment to look into this great cause, donated some funds and given us some positive comments.<br />
<br />
I'll try to update this blog a few times to let you all know how things are going.<br />
<br />
For now.....time to sleep.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-22418983457842222502014-10-20T22:21:00.002-06:002014-10-20T22:21:22.424-06:00LESS THAN A WEEK AWAYBoy time sure does fly!<br />
<br />
We are less than a week away from Kyle's big marathon day of gaming. I think I got him a little more pumped up for the event by cracking out the ol' Atari system yesterday.<br />
<br />
Yeah, he was definitely looking at the beast like it was some sort of vintage contraption.......which it totally is.<br />
<br />
My Atari system has been with me since I was a kid. It was the best on the block (actually, it was pretty much the only thing on the block). But I remember some of the games like it was yesterday.<br />
<br />
<b>Yars Revenge </b>(all-time fave)<br />
<b>Defender</b><br />
<b>Missile Command</b><br />
<b>Combat</b><br />
<b>Ms. Pac Man</b><br />
<b>Bezerk</b><br />
<b>Space Invaders</b><br />
<b>Donkey Kong</b><br />
<b>Frogger</b><br />
<b>Kangaroo</b><br />
<b>Pole Position</b><br />
<b>Ice Hockey</b><br />
<br />
And that's just to name a few. Overall, I think I've got about 20 titles, all of which will make for an even more enjoyable day of gaming Saturday.<br />
<br />
Thank you very much to those who have donated recently. It was a little sluggish over the past couple weeks, but we are still plugging away towards our goal.<br />
<br />
The final push is this week. I'll be sure to keep everyone informed as to what we are doing leading up to and including the big day.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-84713399841184393982014-10-01T22:42:00.002-06:002014-10-01T22:51:15.094-06:00IT'S ALL FOR A GREAT CAUSEWe've cracked the quarter mark of our goal tonight! A sincere THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to this point. We're continuing to talk to friends, family, co-workers and....well....quite frankly anyone who we think might be interested in hearing about this great fundraising effort.<br />
<br />
I'd like to take a moment to give people a "bigger picture" look at what my nephew is looking to accomplish.<br />
<br />
To me, this is not about sitting in front of a screen for a full day, button mashing to his heart's content and zoning out on a Saturday.<br />
<br />
This video gaming marathon is about doing our small part in raising money for the Alberta Children's Hospital. It's about introducing my nephew to the benefits of doing something in a selfless manner - helping others. It's about awareness - on all fronts.<br />
<br />
To those who might be disappointed that this isn't a "fun run" or a skate-a-thon or a bake sale or a math olympics.....but rather an excuse for sitting and playing video games, I ask that you please take a moment to consider the bigger picture.<br />
<br />
It's hard to overlook the $4 million Extra Life raised as a community in 2013. That is a lot of money - going to a lot of hospitals - going to a lot of kids who desperately need it.<br />
<br />
In my eyes, it's more than a worthwhile cause.<br />
<br />
Let's share the message and get the word out about this marathon gaming day on Saturday, October 25. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.extra-life.org/">www.extra-life.org</a><br />
<br />
Thank you again for your time and donations. It is very much appreciated.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359322766906712051.post-32203059234721181232014-09-24T20:18:00.003-06:002014-09-24T20:25:03.459-06:00DONATIONS STARTING TO COME INA huge <b>THANK YOU</b> to those who have taken a moment to consider donating to Extra Life. My nephew and I are excited with the early response.<br />
<br />
We are already a quarter of the way to our goal. Awesome!<br />
<br />
<br />
Part of the reason why I wanted to create this blog was so I could share a little more information on what Extra Life is all about....put faces to the cause.<br />
<br />
Here is a video that introduces you to Victoria Emmon, a Leukemia patient who was the inspiration behind the Extra Life movement.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="290" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/24pO4h4npgE" width="455"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Thank you again for your time. Have a great evening.bamlindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18144916743107134577noreply@blogger.com0