Pokémon Go Players Help Raise Money For Singaporean Fan’s Cancer Treatment
Pokémon Go players in Singapore recently raised funds to help one of their community’s members pay for her cancer treatment
The Covid-19 pandemic may have prevented the Pokémon Go community from meeting in person this year, but that hasn’t stopped their sense of community spirit. According to Channel News Asia, this year’s Pokémon Go Fest will be held virtually, but avid fan Mei Qi will be forced to skip it due to a stage three breast cancer diagnosis. Mei Qi has been playing the augmented reality game since its release in 2016 but has had to cut back her every-day gaming habit to just two days a week while undergoing chemotherapy.
The estimated cost of her treatment is over $400,000, an absolutely prohibitive cost for such a young woman. The fundraiser was started by Mei Qi’s Pokémon Go friend, Bas Linders, and as of the end of July, just over $20,000 SDG had been raised. In a Facebook post on July 29th, Bas provided an update to those following the story. A small, appropriately socially-distanced, gathering was held to present the funds to Mei Qi in the form of a Pokémon-inspired check designed by another member of the Pokémon Go community, Alex Ortega. Bas says this is just the first stage of fundraising and hopes to keep the ball rolling to help out Mei Qi.
It is noteworthy that a majority of the donations came from complete strangers, with their mutual love of the game the one thing tying them together. Bas Linders is committed to standing by Mei Qi’s side, even if half a world away, and plans to a proper fundraising site on give.asia. No word yet on when the site will be up, but those interested in joining in the effort to beat Mei Qi’s cancer can follow the Facebook page linked to above. Bas states on that page that the money they have raised thus far should cover twelve out of the sixteen rounds of chemotherapy that Mei Qi will require, so additional support will surely be appreciated.
Source: The gamer By: MEGAN CHRUSCIEL
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