Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 surpasses fundraising goals, exceeding $2.5 Million for cancer research.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation benefited from the recent Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) 2025 event, which concluded on January 13th. The event, held from January 5th to 13th, raised over $2.5 million, a significant increase of over $100,000 compared to the 2024 total. This substantial contribution supports the foundation's mission of early cancer detection, prevention, research, and public awareness initiatives.
AGDQ 2025, a prominent annual winter speedrunning marathon, showcased a diverse range of games, including popular titles like Crazy Taxi, Super Metroid, and others spanning various genres. This event is one of two major GDQ fundraisers held yearly, complemented by the Summer Games Done Quick marathon in July and smaller, supplementary events throughout the year. A noteworthy example is the October 2024 Disaster Relief Done Quick, which rapidly raised over $45,000 for Direct Relief following Hurricane Helene.
The success of AGDQ 2025 builds upon a long-standing partnership between Games Done Quick and the Prevent Cancer Foundation, with over $26 million raised collectively through previous events. The Pittsburgh-based event commenced with a speedrun of Pikmin (Switch version) by Ray0ken, setting a positive tone for the fundraising efforts.
A standout moment was a creative Crazy Taxi speedrun by Chuckles825, featuring a live band performing the game's soundtrack to circumvent copyright restrictions. This innovative approach generated over $24,000 in donations during its 18-minute run. The event concluded with a thrilling randomized four-player Super Metroid (SNES) race, resulting in an incredibly close finish.
Games Done Quick continues its philanthropic efforts, with Summer Games Done Quick 2025 scheduled for July 6th in Minneapolis, benefiting Doctors Without Borders.
