Twitch streamer DrLupo’s second annual #BuildAgainstCancer livestream raised a record-setting $2.3 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The Fortnite-focused gamer now holds the record for the most money raised for St. Jude by a single creator in 24 hours, the hospital said in a statement. His daylong livestream, broadcast Dec. 22, received more than 16,000 donations from 13,000 donors, and nearly quadrupled the $611,000 raised by his 2018 #BuildAgainstCancer stream.
DrLupo (aka Ben Lupo) has now raised a total of $3.5 million this year for St. Jude, far surpassing last year’s $1.3 million as well as his goal of $2 million. Lupo has been fundraising for St. Jude since 2017, and was recently honored by the organization as its first-ever Creator of the Year for his independent fundraising and for his participation in St. Jude’s annual Play Live fundraiser — a monthlong, streamer-focused initiative that has become St. Jude’s largest source of individual contributions from international donors.
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“My goal has always been to help people,” Lupo, who has 3.7 million followers on Twitch, said in a statement. “I’m a normal guy who loves to play video games. Because of this amazing community, that passion has grown into something much bigger than just gaming–we are helping save kids’ lives. Thank you to everyone who supported this stream.”
Funds raised for St. Jude go toward the care of patients (who are provided with all care, travel, and necessities like campus housing and food at no cost) as well as cancer research and the hospital’s $2.2 million-per-day operating cost.
“Once again, DrLupo has gone the extra mile to help patients and families at St. Jude with a tremendous 24-hour strema,” Richard Shaydac Jr., president and CEO of St. Jude’s fundraising arm ALSAC, said in a statement. “The impact of the gaming community, of gamers doing what they love, is saving lives, and we can’t thank DrLupo enough for his dedication.”
Lupo’s fundraising was supported by partner Design By Humans, which sold $44,282 worth of #BuildAgainstCancer T-shirts during the stream (with all proceeds going to St. Jude), along with his management firm Loaded and partner companies including Rogue, ReKT Global, Logitech, State Farm, NZXT, Intel Gaming, Kings Coast Coffee, Hershey’s, Secret Lab Chairs, Valve Software, and Endgame Streetware.
