OverActive Media (OAM) and The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (The PMCF) have today announced a unique collaboration that will see both organizations come together for three consecutive Call of Duty Warzone competitions this spring. The esports-healthcare initiative will raise funds during OAM's Northern Rivals II tournament to help benefit cancer patients and frontline healthcare workers via The PMCF’s Conquer COVID for Cancer Fund. This is the first gaming and esports collaboration of its kind in The PMCF's history. Viewers will be able to donate to The PMCF during the entire broadcast.
A total of 44 teams and 220 Canadian players will battle it out in a two-day online competition for the chance to win the $5,000 prize pool. The tournament will include a double elimination bracket beginning Thursday April 30, and resuming Friday May 1 with the Top 8 Teams broadcast LIVE on Toronto Ultra's YouTube channel.
During the two day tournament, OAM will be hosting and broadcasting a Call of Duty Warzone competition that will include Chase Edmonds (NFL Running Back for the Arizona Cardinals), Donovan W. Carter (Vernon on HBO's Ballers), Im Suda (YouTube star/Gaming), and Toronto Ultra's Methodz. The broadcast will begin this Friday at 9pm ET.
The Princess Margaret, one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world, is calling on the philanthropic gaming community to help support its urgent needs during the COVID-19 crisis.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have the leading cancer research centre in Canada partner with the leading gaming organization in Canada to raise critical funds in support of cancer patients and frontline workers,” said Michael Burns, the PMCF’s President and CEO. “With social distancing and a shift toward greater digital connectivity, we know the gaming community is the right place to be for our charity, not now but well into the future.”
"We are really proud of this unique collaboration with one of the leading cancer research institutions globally that is doing such important work," added Chris Overholt, OverActive Media's President and CEO. "Our players and teams are still competing, while entertaining audiences nationally and around the world. It is a privilege to act on the ability to use our platform and audience to bring awareness and funds to such a worthy organization. I encourage everyone to donate this week, as we as an organization will be doing as well."
This is the second edition of OAM-run Call of Duty competition. A total of 215 players and 43 teams entered the inaugural online tournament last month, including pro-sports stars Malcolm Miller and Chris Boucher from the Toronto Raptors. Canada's professional Call of Duty franchise, the Toronto Ultra also announced that its coach, Marky B will be involved by contributing as a caster during the Finals of Northern Rivals II.