What is Mario Day?
What is Mario Day and why is it important to Starlight and our supporters?
Mario Day
Mario Day, also known as MAR10 Day, is the annual celebration of the iconic character Mario and the Super Mario franchise from Nintendo. Mario day is celebrated on March 10th every year.
To join in on the celebration, Starlight has our March charity fundraiser for kids, 50K to Mario Day, in which our goal is to fundraise $50,000 by March 10th.
But why do Mario and Nintendo matter to Starlight?
Starlight and Nintendo Create Decades of Happiness
For more than 35 years, Nintendo of America has partnered with Starlight to deliver custom gaming stations, featuring the latest Nintendo hardware and pre-loaded with games for all ages, to hospitals across the country. Built specifically for the hospital, these gaming stations create joyful playtime moments for hospitalized children.
To date, more than 8,000 gaming stations and 1,230,000 gaming sessions have provided the healing power of play to sick kids.
The latest iteration is the Starlight Nintendo Switch Gaming Station, which features a picture of Mario on the front! Mario is featured in some of the fun and familiar games that are pre-loaded on to the Nintendo Switch system, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a fan favorite among Starlight kids like Aria and Luca, who were able to bond with hospital staff and build trust with providers through Starlight Gaming.
Finding Community with Starlight Gaming
In a time when kids often feel lonely and isolated from their loved ones, Starlight Gaming creates a way for them to find connections and friendship. When children with illnesses play together, it supports their healing by helping them get through long days and challenges at the hospital.
Kyrell’s Closest Friends
In 2018, Kyrell was diagnosed with leukemia. His treatment caused him to spend lots of time in the hospital and, at first, it was not a fun place for him. That was until the hospital staff rolled in the Starlight Gaming station. Not only did Kyrell get to do something he enjoyed, but he also got to bond with other patients by playing games together!
“His longtime friends today are the ones who were with him when he was diagnosed because he kept connected with them through Starlight Gaming consoles,” says Lovely, Kyrell’s mom
Jade’s Highlight During Her Hospital Stay
In 2022, Jade was diagnosed with Pulmonary Veno Occlusive Disease (PVOD), the most rare and severe form of pulmonary hypertension. There were no medicines she could take for it – her only treatment option was a Double Lung Transplant. Jade and her family anxiously waited for four months in the ICU waiting to get a call that she could receive a new pair of lungs. What made time go faster was playing video games on the Starlight Gaming Station with Marty, a Patient Technology Coordinator at the hospital.
“He [Marty] would sit with me for an hour and wouldn’t mention anything about my meds ... I kind of forgot what was going on during that time,” recalls Jade.
Jan, Jade’s mom, adds, “Being able to play with Marty on Starlight’s Gaming Station was a highlight of Jade’s admission ... that was probably the one hour a week I saw her laughing.”
Riley’s Sense of Belonging
Living with Cystic Fibrosis, Riley frequently visits the hospital. He can spend anywhere from 2-3 weeks there at a time for IV antibiotics treatment. Riley can feel anxious during his daily treatment, but the Starlight Gaming Station has given him a positive distraction. Gaming has also given him a way to connect with others. Riley has met peers at the hospital who understand his unique challenges, so when they play games together, he doesn’t need to explain himself when he needs to leave a game abruptly or go to a procedure.
50K to MAR10 Day
In celebration of Mario and the impact of Starlight Gaming, our community is coming together to raise $50,000 dollars by Mario Day, March 10th.
You can empower children with the power of play, happiness and connection in a time when they need it most.
Help sick kids this March by donating to Starlight’s 50K to MAR10 Day campaign.
Donate to fund Starlight’s play-powered programs.
Help us meet our $50K goal today!
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