Gamers raised over $1 million for their conference mom

A video gaming community in Portland, Oregon, has raised more than $1 million for cancer research after one of their own was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Jessica Conwell got the diagnosis after her husband, Matt, spotted a box of tissues in the consulting room and correctly guessed the news. Matt runs PDXLAN, which hosts marathon parties where 300 or more gamers compete from Thursday to Sunday evening, with sleep breaks to recharge. Jessica was always there helping, which is why the gamers call her "conference mom." Her treatment included a double mastectomy, chemo and a bout of sepsis. The group had long raised money for charity, but after her diagnosis they redirected it. The first session brought in a record $55,000, tallied on a digital toteboard that ticked up with each donation. Jessica is now closing in on five years cancer-free. "I never knew how many people were in my corner," she says. "I was never alone."