Category Archives: SKSP

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Thank you. Let’s push for the big one.

Holy Countdown BatfolksI’m immensely proud of Sick Kids Save Point. We’ve raised over £71,000 for the Sick Kids Hospital over the last five years, by playing games for 24 hours.

It snowballed into a major event on the Scottish gaming calender, and it did a whole load of good improving the image of gamers at a time when a lot of horrible headlines were penetrating mainstream media. (Yes, I’m talking about you gamergate.)

Anyway, I took a year out last year because I was overworked by the referendum, moving house on the weekend, and I felt I’d tapped up my friends enough over the years. That said, we still had an amazing group of gamers from all over the country who raised a phenomenal amount for sick children and their worried parents. It was proof the event has a life of its own.

That said, this year I’m back, because the charity still does its amazing work, and in fact they are gearing up to move to a sparkling new hospital at Little France. This move is difficult culturally, because people have such personal and emotional memories of the building at Sciennes. But that makes the work of the charity in smoothing that transition even more important.

We want to see if we can push our total over 100,000 this year. That means we need to have our best year ever. That means we need you. Please consider joining us to undertake the challenge, on the 9th-11th October. Or if you can’t please consider sponsoring us. Every little donation will help us towards that total.

Thanks, so much, for all your support over the last five years.

Tom Freeman

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From Los Santos to Edinburgh, in one generous leap..

We’re absolutely thrilled that once again Rockstar North are supporting Sick Kids Save Point. Our local games giant has been busy creating Grand Theft Auto V, which was released last week and made $800 million IN ITS FIRST DAY, but didn’t forget about their local charity games marathon in the aftermath..

Check out the amazing prizes they’ve added to our prize draw: photo

To be in with a chance of winning your own copy of GTAV, or an ifruit iphone cover, or even a plush Chop the dog, all you need to do is sign up for SKSP and raise £100 in sponsorship on your JustGiving page, and you’ll be automatically entered into our prize draw.

Here’s our related press release:

In the wake of releasing what looks to be the best selling videogame of all time, Grand Theft Auto 5, Edinburgh-based Rockstar North have today pledged support for Sick Kids Save Point, the country’s biggest and most successful 24-hour charity gaming marathon. 

Sick Kids Save Point was launched in 2010 in Edinburgh, and thanks to the continued support of the local games giant, the event has managed to raise over £50,000 for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, making the biggest event of its kind in the UK. This year it takes place on the weekend 11th-14th October, and it is thought hundreds of gamers from across the UK will take part. 

Rockstar North have donated a four figure sum every year to The Sick Kids Friends Foundation, as well as prizes to fundraisers who are taking on the challenge of playing games for 24 hours to raise money for this vital local charity.  

Edinburgh actor Tom Freeman organises the event, and was nominated for a Sick Kids award earlier this year for his efforts. 

“I’m delighted that our local heroes have yet again come up with the goods when supporting a crucial local hospital, which treats kids from all over the country.” he said 

“We’ve had support from many of the numerous local games companies and some further afield, but Rockstar North have been consistent in their generosity. Many of Rockstar’s employees even take part! 

Playing games for 24 hours is not easy. Just like a marathon runner has to fight through a pain barrier, participants in Sick Kids Save Point have to push past a realisation that sitting looking at a screen just isn’t fun anymore…”

Also supporting this year’s Sick Kids Save Point marathon are Swedish company Paradox Interactive, NIS America, Finnish company Ludocraft and Scottish website Calm Down Tom, all of whom have donated Prizes. The event also enjoys the support of the Scottish games industry through ScottishGames.net. 

the Sick Kids Friends Foundation is a registered Scottish Charity that raises around £1.5 million every year to help children and families at the Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital.