Riley’s McMaster Children’s Hosp. Video Game Drive

My name is Mike Berryman, and my family and I are raising money to purchase and donate video games and consoles to McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton.

My brother Riley was diagnosed with Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction when he was 11 months old. Riley had a severe case of this rare condition, and he spent 5-6 months every year at ‘Hotel Mac’ receiving treatment and recovering from intestinal surgeries.

Riley spent most of his time on 3B and 3C. These units had mobile television and video game consoles to help pass the time for the children. The games were there to help relieve the fear and anxiety a child goes through when they are sick in hospital. Riley gravitated to video games at an early age and gaming became part of his identity, mainly due to this program at McMaster.

Riley passed away in 2012 at the age of 14 after developing serious complications from his chronic illness.

Every year on November 20th, we celebrate Riley’s birthday by donating games and consoles to the same units he spent his time on. Normally the donation is strictly from our family, but this year we’ve planned something a bit more large-scale in his honour for the 10th anniversary of his death.

We aim to raise $20,000 this year, which will be donated primarily in games and consoles on the hospital’s ‘wishlist’. All leftover money will also be donated, along with pizza and donuts for the staff working on 3B and 3C on his birthday.

On behalf of my family, thank you for your support/donations and please share this page with your social circles! :)