CNN iReport

While the world churns its way through elections, financial rescue plans, and energy concerns, a modest movement started by a small video game blog has become a gigantic multinational movement to bring attention and awareness to an urgent cause.

Young men and women from every corner of the planet are playing video games to fight pediatric cancer.

"We can not believe what this has become," said Lesley Adams, public relations manager for SarcasticGamer.com.  The blog's "Extra Life" program has grown from a simple idea to include more than 70 websites and 1300 participants in a matter of weeks.

"We just asked a question;  If people can raise money by running, walking, or biking then why couldn't we do the same thing without the caloric output?"

On Saturday, the Extra Life participants will begin a 24-hour video game marathon for which they have spent the past several weeks soliciting sponsors.

"We were hoping we might raise a couple of thousand dollars and reach a few hundred people," said Adams.  "But we blew past both of those numbers in the first day."

Funds raised by Extra Life go to Texas Children's Cancer Center, one of the largest pediatric cancer and hematology facilities in the world, located in Houston, TX.

"We can't believe how big this has grown," said Katherine Daggett, development director for Texas Children's.  "Extra life is changing the rules of fundraising."

Extra Life is the brain child of Sarcastic Gamer's Founder, Doc Adams.  An audio production wiz by day, Adams grew very close to a little girl through a radiothon which he also created five years ago.

"When Tori passed away, I knew I wanted to honor her, and her family by doing more for the cause," said Adams.  "But in my wildest dreams I never thought we'd be answering pledges from Poland or Australia."

Major companies have taken notice of "the little website that could."  Extra Life has already recieved generous donations from software giant Electronic Arts, Best Buy, Codemasters, and Sumo Lounge to name a few.

The event begins worldwide this Saturday, October 18th at 9:00am in each gamer's local timezone, and ends at the same time on Sunday.

"We're already excited about what this community of gamers have done," said Doc Adams.  "We're also humbled by the gravity of the cause for which we're fighting.  Here in the United States and elsewhere, pediatric cancer is still the number one cause of non-accidental death in children, and more helpis needed to finish this fight once and for all."

More information and donation links can be found at http://extralife.sarcasticgamer.com

"You don't have to be a hardcore gamer to partcipate with us," said Adams.

"You just have to have a heart."