activities for the civic geek

Turn your hobby or geekery into a marathon and use it as a charity drive.

You remember those six hours you spent on a computer game. Or that marathon RPG session. OK, actually in a few cases you don’t, but either way what you did for fun was to endure a kind of mental gauntlet.

What if you did this to raise money?

Marathons, especially in Video Game communities, are a popular way to raise money for a good cause. People band together and play games for ridiculously long times – and often play ridiculous games as well. This is often done publicly, usually online, for people to enjoy, get involved, and wonder. It’s good fun, but it’s also great for awareness, camaraderie, and raising money.

Of course it doesn’t have to be video games,though those are ideally suited for marathons and as noted they’re quite popular. Why not have a marathon RPG session? Marathon comics drawing session? Cosplay creation? Anything can be marathoned, and with online streaming and social media you can involve the world – and get them to donate.

You could also tie it into other efforts:

• A cosplay marathon could also be a tutorial for people, raising interest – and money.
• A game marathon could be run by your company around the games they make.
• Game mod makers could make a mod just for a charity event – then release it.

The sky, and your access to caffeine, is the limit.

Resources

RPG Marathons

• Role-playing Gamers Giving A Bleep – Does RPG marathons for good causes.

Video Game Marathons:

• Crystals For Life – Does RPG speedruns to benefit the JDRF and their work on Type 1 diabetes.
• Desert Bus – Since 2007 Desert Bus has been raising money for Child’s Play via webcasting marathons of the infamous never-ending bus driving game “Desert Bus.”
• Game To Aid – A charity that raises money via broadcast video-game marathons, often with various creative (and at times painful) themes.
• Games Done Quick – Does game speedruns to raise money for charity.
• Gaming For Others – A UK group that does marathons for charity, and works with Special Effect.
• Hyrule Hustlers – Video game enthusiasts who sponsor Childs Play and run Zelda-based events and marathons.
• Indie Games For Good – Indie Games For Goods raises money for Child’s Play by focusing on Indie Game marathons.
• Marathon Gamers – A gaming marathon group thta does marathons for charities.
• Mario Marathon – A yearly all-Mario gameathon to support Childs Play.
• One Big Game – A nonprofit that raises money by selling games.
• U-Pick Video Game – Raises money for charity via marathons where others pick the games.
• Video Game Nightmarathon – Does Halloween-themed and horror game marathons for charity.

If you can make costumes, if you can cosplay, if you can slip into a role, wouldn’t it be great to use those skills to do good.

Lots of cosplayers already do. They attend events in character, provide skills, raise money, and even visit children in full costume. So why not you and your friends?

It could be something as simple as holding a charity drive or selling off old costumes. It could be as complex as having a group of “superheroes” (played by you and your friends) visit children in need. It could be some kind of amazing event people haven’t even dreamed up yet.

Cosplay, costuming, crafting, acting are all skills that you can do a lot with. Just imagine the possibilities . . .

. . . actually to help you here’s a few organizations to take a look at for ideas or to get involved.  I’m sure there’s many, many more out there.

Charitable Work (Inside The US)

• Cloud City Garrison – Famous for many events, cosplay is just one thing they do.
• Heroes Alliance – Cosplayers who use their skills for charity and community events.

Charitable Work (Outside the US)

• Cosplay For Charity – A belgian cosplay group that attends and helps with charitable events.
• Pause For a Cause – A singaporean cosplay group involved in charity events as well as other ventures.