Video game helps make advancements in medical research

(NECN: Latoyia Edwards) – Childhood is a time when you’re not supposed to have a care in the world. That is not the case for kids battling serious illness. A community called ‘Generation Cures’ aims to save their youth, while making advancements in research. This make-believe computer game doles out real life financial rewards Eradicating plague is one of the many health related games at the Generation Cures website. Every time a player wins, Children’s Hospital Boston receives a donation. Nate: “I had a back spasm in the second grade we went to the hospital and that’s when we found out.” Children’s hospital doctors began treating Nate for the curved spine disorder scoliosis when he was only seven. Like many patients – Nate was told he would wear a corrective back brace until he stopped growing likely at age of 18. Many kids with scoliosis struggle to wear their back brace. After all it can be uncomfortable. Kids have to wear it at school and even when they sleep. Up to 23 hours a day. In 2007, Nate’s mother received promising news. Children’s Hospital Boston chose Nate to be the first in Boston to undergo a groundbreaking back surgery called vertebral body stapling. As way to give back to his doctors, Nate joined Generation Cures. A fundraising website and forum for Children’s Hospital patients worldwide. 14-year-old Will received two life saving heart surgeries at Children’s Hospital. He and Nate are now encouraging their classmates at Barnstable high school to get as many sponsors as they can– then visit Generationcures.com. Every time they make it to a new level of the computer game– their sponsors donate money to Children’s Hospital Nate Winslow’s goal is to sign up 1500 Generation Cures members. As an incentive, 100 new members will receive a Rock Band 2 video game. And the person who raises the most money by September 30th gets a luxury box and star treatment from the New England Revolution.