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'Game On' for charity at Gaming Hoopla in Gurnee

Posted April 09, 2017 1:00 am

Daily Herald report

Annika McGowan, 6, of Kildeer and her brother, Trevor, 10, play Loopin' Louie during Gaming Hoopla on Sunday at the Holiday Inn Gurnee Convention Center. All the money raised from the annual gaming convention benefits the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com

Playing games is fun, of course, but this weekend in Gurnee the whimsy of getting lost in an absorbing role-playing competition or the thrill of a hard-fought board game victory took a back seat to the helping others.

Gaming Hoopla, an annual gaming convention hosted this year at the Holiday Inn Gurnee Convention Center, raised thousands of dollars for the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, which supports research and innovation in cancer treatment.

Hundreds of gaming fans filled the convention center over the three-day event for tabletop board games, role-playing games, tournaments, contests, forums and seminars and more. Games were available for all ages and skill levels in a range of genres.

Sunday at Gaming Hoopla was Family Day, with several events specifically for children under the age of 12 and focused more on fun than winning.

Gaming Hoopla is the main fundraiser of the Hoopla Foundation, a volunteer organization started by gamers to support a variety of cancer-related charities.

Organizers expected about 500 attendees at the event this year, and set a goal of raising $15,000 for the Lombardi foundation.

Players from Wisconsin and Illinois play board games Sunday during Gaming Hoopla at the Holiday Inn Gurnee Convention Center. The annual convention raises thousands of dollars every year to fight cancer and help those battling the disease. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com

Simon Clark, 4, of Morris gets excited Sunday as he plays Fun Farm during Gaming Hoopla at the Holiday Inn Gurnee Convention Center. The annual convention raises thousands of dollars every year to fight cancer and help those battling the disease. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com

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