At PAX West, I had the opportunity to visit the Choose Mental Health booth, where they were raising awareness about their upcoming MindQuest live fundraiser. This innovative event combines gaming and livestreaming to provide scholarships for youth mental health treatment. They weren't asking for donations on the spot—just for some help spreading the word. To make their booth fun and engaging, Choose Mental Health set up an interactive Marble Race and handed out butterfly-themed cards with their social media details. #choosementalhealth

It's no secret that mental health and gaming are closely connected. Many of us turn to gaming as a form of escape, whether it's to unwind after a long day or to find comfort in something we're good at when we're feeling down. Gaming has been a refuge for countless people, especially children, for a long time. Choose Mental Health already helps over 1,000 kids each year, and they want to reach even more—what better way to do that than through gaming?

Their goal at PAX West was to get 5,000 people from the conference to sign up for their October fundraiser. They had a great turnout with: 5,280 racers, 480 races, nearly 400 signed up, and 4,900 butterflies handed out. PAX may be over, but there's still time to get involved! You can sign up for updates here, or if you're eager to contribute, you can donate now.