Extra Life, the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ gaming fundraiser has raised $3.8 million this year, the organization announced today. This accomplishment comes in the wake of an unfortunate distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack over the weekend.
This year’s event had raised over $2 million, with an additional $1.8 million flooding in over the weekend despite the attack.
“Extra-Life.org was the victim of attacks throughout and after the 25-hour event, taking it down intermittently,” said managing partner at DonorDrive, Todd Levy.
As Levy explains, a DDoS incursion overloads the website by sending it copious amounts of traffic and rendering it inaccessible to people who try to browse it.
Jeromy ‘Doc’ Adams, Extra Life co-founder and a director at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals commented on the still fresh incident.
“We’re all still a little stunned someone would want to hurt a program that’s helping hospitalized kids,” he said.
Thankfully, Extra Life reports personal data such as credit card information was never compromised and remains secure.
Regardless of the attack, EL remains committed to carrying out its gameathon, which has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov 9. citing players’ requests. The organization will continue to accept donations for member children’s hospitals through Dec. 31 of this year.
Adams founded Extra Life in 2008 to create a legacy for his beloved friend, 15-year-old Victoria Enmon, who passed away of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Adams has been on an inspired mission to support ill children across the country. The Extra Life fundraiser currently benefits 170 children’s hospitals in North America and takes place every year in the fall.