US: Gamers to Play 'The Legend of Zelda' for 150 Consecutive Hours to Raise Funds for Charity

Image via Zeldathon.net

December 27 to January 2, more than 50 gamers will play "The Legend of Zelda" for 150 consecutive hours to raise money for HelpHOPELive, a top-ranked charity that supports fundraising campaigns for people with unmet medical and related expenses due to cell and organ transplants or catastrophic injuries and illnesses. The Zelda marathon, named "Zeldathon Hope," will kick off at4 p.m. on Dec. 27 to a live audience of thousands on Twitch, the world's leading video game streaming platform.

Image via Zeldathon.net

Zeldathon Hope participants will play games in the Zelda series while asking for charitable contributions from the audience. Only by reaching specific donation goals will players unlock new Zelda challenges. To thank viewers who donate, players will put on impromptu musical performances, don outlandish costumes or even accept a pie to the face.

All proceeds from the Zeldathon Hope marathon will benefit HelpHOPELive, with a portion going toward its Emergency Grant Program, which helps individuals who are unable to fundraise cover immediate and dire needs such as their next dose of medication, travel to critical medical care, gaps in Medicare coverage and durable medical equipment. Donations are being collected at Zeldathon.net.

Since 2009, Zeldathon marathons have raised over $430,000 for nonprofit organizations. A group of Zelda lovers from Saegertown, Pennsylvania started the event as a casual two-person 24-hour charity marathon during the founders' winter break from high school.

"To find a recipient for this year's Zeldathon, our director, Matthew Moffit, looked at Charity Navigator's highest-rated charities," said Zeldathon Assistant Director Elizabeth Rice. "We pursued HelpHOPELive because we wanted to work with a charity that could make a direct impact on lives with the donations received."

"We are excited to partner with the Zeldathon Team and gamers worldwide to raise money for HelpHOPELive," said HelpHOPELive CEO David Bakelman. "Uninsured medical expenses continue to be a major issue for people facing serious health challenges. Funds raised will help us provide assistance to people who need it in a tangible way."

Zeldathon Hope (zeldathon.net) is a 150-hour gaming marathon to raise money for top-ranked charity HelpHOPELive (helphopelive.org). (PRNewsFoto/HelpHOPELive)

Since 1983, campaigns organized by HelpHOPELive have raised over $112 million to offset the out-of-pocket medical expenses of more than 7,500 patients and families.  

For more information, visit www.helphopelive.org, visit the HelpHOPELive Facebook page, and follow @HelpHOPELiveorg on Twitter.