This fall I’m participating in two marathons: the Extra Life charity gaming marathon on November 2, and the Philadelphia Marathon on November 17. One is a grueling test of strength, skill, that will help me raise money for a worthy cause, while the other is a totally self-indulgent 26.2-mile run that will help me raise my self esteem before I inhale two Philly cheesesteaks at the finish line.

When I did Extra Life for the first time last year, I didn’t really know much of anything about the charity. It was really just an excuse to play video games for 24 hours straight and pretend it was for a good cause, and yet somehow my friends, family, and readers helped me raised nearly $2,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital! However, in the past year, not only have I learned about all the wonderful things that Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals are doing to help kids across the country, but I’ve developed a deep personal appreciation for the amazing hospital I support here in Boston. I know many people who have turned to Boston Children’s when their kids needed help, and earlier this year when my own son developed a terrible viral infection that we feared might threaten his vision (or worse), there was one place above all others that we knew would be able to help him.

I hope you will support me by clicking this link or one of the donation links on the right. If you remain unconvinced, please take a few minutes to watch this video about the story behind Extra Life. Be warned, though: this mini-documentary is some high-test emotional rocket fuel. In the immortal words of McBain actor Rainer Wolfcastle, “If tears could burst through my muscular ducts, I would cry like a baby who was hit by a hammer”.

What game or games do you think I should play this year? Let me know in the comments!