St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® recognizes GuardianCon for raising more than $2.8 million

Live-stream gaming conference supports fight against childhood cancer, other life-threatening diseases for third consecutive year

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GuardianCon, an annual event that brings broadcasters, artists, editors and other industry professionals together for two days of gaming, raised more than $2.8 million to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®.

This year, the creators set a goal to raise enough money to operate the hospital for one day. The daily operating cost of St. Jude is more than $2 million per day, and more than 75 percent of that funding comes from individual contributors. At the close of the event, more than $2.8 million was raised for the hospital that is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Some of the most well-known gaming live-streamers broadcast their own fundraisers for the event and asked fans to contribute to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Popular streamers DrLupo and Ninja were among the hosts with DrLupo raising $659,300 for the event, and Ninja raising $580,800.

"We are so thankful for our relationship with GuardianCon and their steadfast support of St. Jude for the last three years," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "This event has helped bridge the gap to a new industry for us, and we are excited to see the good that gaming will do to impact charitable giving in the future."

Families at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing for food - because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

"We want to show the world that gaming can be a platform for doing great things," said Ben Bowman, co-creator of GuardianCon. "Supporting St. Jude does just that. We wanted to support a charity that does good internationally, and St. Jude freely shares its research around the world while also providing care to patients and families free of charge. It's a perfect fit for us."

To join the fight against childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, visit stjude.org.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude), following St. Jude on Twitter (@stjude) and subscribing to its YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/MyStJude).

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SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital