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Summer Games Done Quick Raises $2 Million For Doctors Without Borders
Summer Games Done Quick 2020 wrapped up recently, having raised over $2 million for Doctors Without Borders. The charity livestream featured skilled speedrunners playing through games for fan donations. It's one of two annual events that Games Done Quick hosts, with the other, Awesome Games Done Quick, taking place early in the year.
Summer Games Done Quick was held under strained circumstances this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was delayed from its prearranged schedule in June and pushed back to August instead. For safety's sake, the event also took place exclusively digitally. The hosts managed things from their Twitch studio and speedrunners competed from the safety of their own homes. It wasn't the first schedule change GDQ undertook because of the pandemic, as the organization held a special charity stream in April to raise money for COVID relief.
Summer Games Done Quick 2020 ended yesterday, and the numbers are in. According to the organization's website, GDQ raised $2,332,665.84 for Doctors Without Borders over the course of the event. While this final total doesn't break the event's fundraising record of over $3 million set last year, it's still in the upper limits of money raised by a GDQ event. The stream saw over 20,000 donors putting in an average of $69 each in support of the medical organization as players streamed everything from Demon's Souls to Pokémon Shield.
The trials and tribulations that GDQ went through to host Summer Games Done Quick this year are clear proof of why it had to be hosted. The COVID-19 pandemic is still an awful, pressing issue for people around the world, and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon. A group like Doctors Without Borders is going to be vital in helping to combat this deadly disease. If ever there was a time to raise $2 million for an organization like this, that time is certainly now, and it's truly heartwarming to see video game fans rise to the occasion in such a big way.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on every aspect of modern life, and it's going to be a very long time before society recovers from this immense worldwide tragedy. Events like GDQ are a marvelous and inspiring way of bringing people together to combat the pandemic. The pure speedrunning skill on display at Summer Games Done Quick is always thrilling, and it's even better to know that these masters of their craft are putting their immense talent to use for such a pure and noble cause. It's good to know that no matter how bad things get with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are events like Summer Games Done Quick bringing hope and charity to the people and organizations that need it.
