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Miramichi gamer heads to Orlando to play for charity

Kris Jardine never thought the hours he spent as a child playing Super Mario Bros. would ever amount to anything as honourable as raising money for charity — but it has.

The father of two from Miramichi found out in January he had won a trip to Orlando to play in a video-and-board-game tournament, where the winners will be awarded donations towards the Children's Miracle Network hospital of their choice.

"The IWK has done so much for Atlantic Canadians as a whole," said Jardine.

"To turn [playing video games] into donations and now having turned that into a wonderful experience the IWK has provided me with, it's almost unfathomable."

The tournament is hosted by Extra Life United, a Children's Miracle Network program. To qualify for the Orlando trip, Jardine played in a 24-hour gaming marathon through Extra Life, and raised money for the IWK from his home.

Every player who raised more than $250 was placed into a draw for a trip to the United States to play in Extra Life United 2017.

"It's been a whirlwind of exposure and learning about the IWK," said Jardine.

"Knock on wood, both my kids have been healthy for the most part, but I've known people who, 30 years ago, the IWK was there for them and their families."

Two-day tournament in Orlando

Jardine describes the first day of his Orlando trip as "casual and informal," but it's the part he is most looking forward to.

"There's 13 kids and their families are going down. One from every hospital," he said.

"We get to have an informal session where we get to meet the kids and play games with them and learn their stories and meet their families."

The next day, each of the 125 competitors compete in six games — a combination of board games and video games — during one-on-one matchups.

The top four finishers of the day will receive donation money for the hospital of their choice.

To prepare, Jardine has been playing with his children — Rowyn, 7, and Grayson, 5.

"My kids have started to grow into video games a little bit more. We've connected over the retro games," said Jardine

"The kids are wonderful coaching staff."