A week-long charity event has secured $3.7 million for a children’s hospital, with Fortnite streamer Ben “Dr. Lupo” Lupo breaking money-raising records after securing $920,000 in donations in just four and a half hours. As part of GuardianCon – a convention started by Destiny content creators – the charity livestream event has since grown to encompass much more than Bungie and its sci-fi shooter.
With lofty goals to raise $3 million ahead of the convention – which kicks off in Orlando, Florida, next month – Destiny developer Bungie had already raised an impressive $400,000, but then Lupo smashed that record thanks to donations from a range of high profile streaming stars, including fellow Fortnite streamer Ninja, plus TimtheTatman, ItsmeJP, and Annemunition. According to Forbes, Lupo himself also donated $50,000 to the cause.
Lupo smashed through his original, more modest milestones, but fell just short of his final $1 million stretch goal, which would’ve seen him Pon Pon – Ninja’s signature dance – on stream. The funds – which cumulatively exceed $5m since the event started in 2017 – will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis.
In other Ninja news, Ebury Press recently confirmed it will publish three books penned by Fortnite stream star, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. The first – entitled “Get Good, Ninja’s ultimate guide to gaming” – is set to release in August 2019 and will be “the ultimate guide to gaming that reveals Ninja’s secrets to his success”, including tips on topics such as “using the best equipment, practising with purpose, developing a streaming strategy, and pulling together the right team”.
A Ninja notebook “with stickers, prompts and gaming tips” will also be available in August, while Ninja: The Most Dangerous Game – the first in a series of original graphic novels – will be published in December. The novel is “set in a fictional world created by notable comic writer Justin Jordan and comic artist Felipe Magaña” and “will offer a new way for Ninja fans of all ages to experience Ninja’s unmatched wits and skill”.
