If you’re old enough to be reading this post, you’re likely to have been inside a hospital at least once. I’ve had more visits to the big ole building with a red cross than I’d like, and it’s taught me two things: medical personnel are cool, and hospitals are even more boring than MindsEye.

One of the few respites I had during an extended stay was a trusty old PlayStation hooked up to the cheap CRT TV hanging on a rusty mount. I spent way too long trying to finish the official The Mummy game adaptation. I failed miserably, but pixelated Brendan Fraser was the hero I needed back then. Now you can help give other kids a savior like that.

Polygon, TheGamer, and GameRant are partnering with Starlight to make things better for kids facing long hospital stays across the United States. When we introduce gaming to their situation, it brings a sense of normalcy while also giving them room to dream and experience magical things that can drown the white noise of hospital equipment and staff. The Nintendo Switch is the ideal console for this, with its blend of portability, user-friendliness, and a range of games fit for all ages.

Pre-installed with 25 games that can be played solo or with others, the Starlight Gaming Stations are specially adapted Nintendo Switch consoles. They’re easy to sanitize and transport, giving kids freedom in where and how they play. Multiplayer titles let them connect with other patients or share moments with their families, transforming long hospital days into moments of fun and connection.

How You Can Help

The Gaming 4 Good campaign is raising money to buy Starlight Gaming Stations and Handheld units to donate to hospitals. To help make a change for hospitalized children, Valnet is matching dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000, doubling the impact to a total of $50,000.

For those willing to contribute financially, the suggested commitment starts at $25 or above to make sure you get a strong impact. For reference, getting each hospital-safe console set to a hospital costs $5,000.

We’re proud to kickstart Gaming 4 Good with a generous $5,000 donation from Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP (MSK), which will fund a hospital-safe gaming console for children in need. And that’s just the beginning. Throughout the campaign, you can look forward to exciting giveaways made possible by our incredible contributors, including:

Stay connected and don’t miss a giveaway by following us on Instagram: @dualshockers

If you want to participate in any shape or form, or have questions, click here. Your contribution goes a long way, and it will make someone’s hospital stay better.