The 2020 Summer Games Done Quick charity speedrun marathon might have been delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak around the world, but a new online Corona Relief Done Quick event – which took place this weekend – has been a roaring success. The organisers have announced it raised $400,000 for charity Direct Relief.
That’s according to a post on Games Done Quick’s Twitter channel, which says: “We also managed to break $400k raised for Direct Relief! How about that! Thank you so much to everyone for all your effort and all the money you have donated towards this wonderful charity during this marathon!” That eye watering sum was raised between the event’s start on April 17 and conclusion yesterday, April 19.
During the fundraising marathon, players took on the challenge of speedrunning a varied GDQ Corona Relief schedule, which featured some great titles both old and new, including some of the best PC games of recent years, like Doom Eternal, as well as iconic classics, such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Dark Souls.
100% of funds raised go to Direct Relief, which has a “mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay.”
We also managed to break $400k raised for @DirectRelief! How about that!
Thank you so much to everyone for all your effort and all the money you have donated towards this wonderful charity during this marathon! #CRDQ
— Games Done Quick (@GamesDoneQuick) April 20, 2020
Given the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the charity is working “to get protective gear and critical care medications to as many health workers as possible, as quickly as possible” and “coordinating with public health authorities, nonprofit organisations and businesses in the US and globally to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to coronavirus (COVID-19).”
Head to Games Done Quick’s Twitch channel here if you’re keen to catch up on some clips of the speedrunning fun and donate if you missed any of the action this weekend.