NINTENDO WII U SYSTEM WILL BE SHOWCASED IN A VIDEO GAME MARATHON TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY
New, York, NY, November 5, 2012 – Several dedicated gamers are ready to spend an entire weekend playing video games, including the new Nintendo Wii U console, to raise money for a good cause. The event, the Fourth Annual Nick’s Marathon, is held in the name of Nicholas Capobianco, who passed away in the summer of 2008.
Nick, a video game enthusiast and devoted friend, touched countless lives in his 28 years. Though he battled leukemia as a child, he lived most of his adult life healthy and cancer free… until health issues began to resurface in 2006. Nick spent the next few years undergoing various surgeries and treatments, including a bone marrow transplant. In June of 2008, while his body was weak and susceptible to illness, a leukemia-related disease took Nick’s life.
A group of Nick’s friends decided to pay tribute to their late friend with a weekend full of Nick’s favorite hobby: video games. The group live-streams the event online, and visitors are invited tonicksmarathon.org to watch and make charitable donations in Nick’s name.
This year, Nick’s Marathon has been timed to coincide with the release of Nintendo’s new Wii U home console. Alan Noah, one of the co-founders of Nick’s Marathon, says, “We’re planning to play several new Wii U games, and we really want to get all the way through New Super Mario Bros. U. Nick would be so proud if we could beat the game in just one weekend!” The event will take place from Friday, November 23rd through Sunday, November 25th.
In addition to standard donations, Nick’s Marathon will also be raising money via $10 raffle tickets. The grand prize is a brand new Deluxe Wii U system, MSRP $349.99. The contest may prove to be a good way for gaming fans to get their hands on the console, as pre-orders at many retailers have already sold-out. All of the proceeds from the raffle, and 100% of all donations received, will go directly to charity.
This year, Nick’s Marathon will be raising money for Child’s Play, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in its network of over 70 hospitals worldwide. Since 2003, Child’s Play has collected millions of dollars in donations of toys, games, books and cash for kids in children’s hospitals. Nick, ever the video game lover, was gaming in his hospital room until just days before his death.ABOUT NICK’S MARATHON
Nick’s Marathon was created in September 2008 by Alan Noah and James Brief, two friends of Nicholas Capobianco who wanted to do something positive, charitable, and fun to honor the memory of their friend. The organization has been granted tax exempt 501(c)(3) status from the United States Internal Revenue Service in September 2012.
Nick’s Marathon is not affiliated with Nintendo or Child’s Play.
