During the 2019 Z Event, 54 streamers mobilized their communities for more than 54 hours in aid of the Institut Pasteur. €3.5 million was raised during the video game marathon, which saw the participation of France's top e-sport players. This extraordinary sum will be directly allocated to scientific research. The Institut Pasteur is very proud to have been involved in such a large-scale event, which attracted interest and support from well beyond the traditional video game streaming community. The event was a first for the Institut Pasteur, representing an opportunity to rally an entirely new audience to its cause. A big thank you to all those involved for their valuable support.
"On behalf of all its scientists, the Institut Pasteur extends its heartfelt thanks to all the streamers, viewers and donors who made this outstanding result possible. This community is just incredible! A big thank you in particular to Adrien Nougaret and Alexandre Dachary, alias Zerator and Dach, for their enthusiasm in mobilizing the community to the cause," enthuses Dr. Jean-François Chambon, Vice-President Communications and Fundraising at the Institut Pasteur, who went along in person on Saturday evening to meet the pair and support their efforts.
The event gave rise to hilarious "raids", outlandish challenges and often comical donation goals, attracting some 500,000 followers for 54 hours and sending the donation counter ever higher until, by the close on Sunday evening, it had reached the historic world record of €3.5 million raised for a charitable cause on the Twitch platform.
The money raised will provide valuable support for the Institut Pasteur's many research programs in the areas of emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, brain connectivity and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and vaccinology. These research topics place the Institut Pasteur at the forefront of efforts to tackle the major health threats facing the planet today.
Research is a costly activity, and the need for funding never goes away.
Public generosity and company sponsorship have been a cornerstone of the Institut Pasteur's business model ever since its early days. They represent a third of the Institut Pasteur's budget, guaranteeing its independence and its ability to respond in health emergencies.
The Institut Pasteur will be reaching out to the public once again during Pasteurdon 2019 (see page in French), which will take place from October 9 to 13. The foundation's annual five-day campaign to raise funds and awareness will be an opportunity for the general public to find out more about the research carried out by its teams and the need for funding.
"Today we need public support more than ever. Your contribution is essential if we are to continue to make progress in research and health," continues Jean-François Chambon. "A huge thank you to all the Institut Pasteur's generous donors."
During the 2019 Z Event, 54 streamers mobilized their communities for more than 54 hours in aid of the Institut Pasteur. Jean-François Chamon, Vice-President Communications and Fundraising at the Institut Pasteur, and the Pasteurians (working at the Institut Pasteur) thank all the gamers, streamers, viewers and donors who made this spectacular and unexpected result possible (video in French). Copyright: Institut Pasteur.
