For Neil Koontz, gaming has always been a way to connect with friends. Now, it is also a way to honor his son, Riley, and support childhood cancer research.
Through two recent livestream fundraisers on his Twitch channel, buggy52, Neil has brought family, friends, and fellow gamers together to raise more than $9,200 for Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Behind the games and good-natured challenges is a deeply personal connection to the research those gifts help support.
Neil and his wife, Kelsey, live in Lakeville, Indiana, where he works on his family’s farm. They first learned about COG when Riley was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in August 2022 and participated in a COG clinical trial. After losing Riley on March 30, 2025, Neil found a meaningful way to honor his memory through something he had always enjoyed: gaming.
Neil began using gaming to raise funds through Extra Life, a program supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. As he considered other ways to give, Neil was drawn to The Children’s Oncology Group Foundation as a way to support research beyond any one hospital, helping advance care for children regardless of where they live.
He wanted the people giving through his campaign to know what their generosity would support: research focused on children facing cancer.
“I just really appreciated being able to donate directly to you guys,” Neil said.
Gaming offered a familiar place to begin. Neil has played since childhood, and his online friendships extend across the United States and into Canada. He had supported other gaming fundraisers before deciding to host his own.
“I enjoy being able to use the thing that I love to be able to work towards good,” he said.
A livestream fundraiser lets viewers watch someone play games in real time, join a live chat, and donate to a cause. Neil added another reason to participate: contributions could trigger challenges or unlock fundraising milestones, giving viewers a chance to influence what happened on screen.
During his first COG fundraiser, a six-hour stream, those challenges included eating hot wings, doing wall sits, and changing into costumes. Family and friends helped him reach his costume milestones sooner than he expected.
Then his brother sent a group of gaming friends his way. In about half an hour, they contributed an estimated $300 to $400.
It was an unexpected reminder of how one person’s invitation can bring more people into an effort. Neil was still building his Twitch following, and most of his support came from family and close friends. Their willingness to give, and to share the fundraiser with others, helped it grow.
For his next fundraiser in October, Neil planned a 12-hour stream featuring games including Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Fall Guys. Kelsey and friends joined him for part of the day, while viewers kept the chat active and the challenges coming.
One of the most memorable moments came when Kelsey shaved his head. She started with a strip down the middle, and Neil continued streaming with the unusual hairstyle for about an hour.
“I looked like a mad scientist for awhile there!” he shared afterward.
The October stream drew 82 unique viewers and raised more than $2,000 during the broadcast. A $5,000 gift from Neil’s mother and additional donations afterward brought his reported overall fundraising total to more than $9,200!
For Neil, the experience shows that a fundraiser can begin with something already part of your life. It takes some preparation to get a stream running, he explained, but once it is set up, the process is straightforward. Asked whether he would recommend it to others, his answer was simple.
“If gaming is something you’re into, definitely.”
Neil’s fundraisers bring together something he has long enjoyed and a cause that will always be personal. In Riley’s memory, he is giving the people around him a way to support research for other children and families facing cancer.
His efforts are also an invitation to consider what might be possible within our own interests and connections. A familiar hobby, a few friends, and a willingness to try can become a meaningful way to help move childhood cancer research forward.
For Neil, it all started with something he loved and a desire to make a difference in Riley’s memory. Others can do the same. Whether through gaming, a personal challenge, a birthday fundraiser, or another meaningful activity, every fundraiser creates an opportunity to bring people together in support of children with cancer. If you are interested in hosting your own online fundraiser, we would love to hear your story and help you get started. Contact us at donate@thecogfoundation.org to learn more.