Story and photos by Casey Minter
Where would the greatest dance party in Eugene on a Saturday night be found? At a house party? At a concert? Or at a charity event? Anyone whose chose the first two is sorely mistaken.
The seventh annual UO Dance Marathon took place this past Saturday in the Erb Memorial Union Ball Room. Packed with energetic students sweating, laughing, and raising money for children in the Eugene community, the ballroom shone with opulence and cheer. The students involved were dancing in celebration of months of hard work, in hopes that their efforts to get people to attend the fund raiser would not go unnoticed.
The marathon is a culmination of months of dedicated fund raising undertaken by students at the U of O in order to fund local hospitals. The event works through Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization that raises money for more than 170 children’s hospitals.
“The Dance Marathon is the biggest philanthropic event that takes place at the [UO],” said Catherine Dacquisto, one of the students heavily involved in organizing the event. Fellow student organizer Charlie Jackson elaborated.
“It’s a celebration of the fund raising that we have done throughout the year,” Jackson said. “[It’s] one final push to meet our fund raising goal.” The Dance Marathon is only the finale of these students’ work, he explained, and for months before the event they fund raise, meet with families of kids they are seeking to help, and involve themselves in the community.
With over 610 registered participants this year, there was a lot to consider in setting up an event of this size. Thankfully, community members and businesses were extremely helpful, donating food, snacks, and the money necessary for the marathon to take place. Monster Energy Drinks even sponsored a “rave hour” at 10 pm, where they provided parched students with the fuel they needed to keep dancing. Energy drinks, snacks, and solid meals were necessary when the event organizers were asking a sizable crew to dance for 12 hours straight.
In general, participants for the annual event usually show up around 10:30 am for registration and breakfast. At noon, the dancing begins, and continues throughout the day. Interspersed are fun breaks and events for the dancers, but all participants must stay on their feet for the full twelve hours, in solidarity with the dance marathon mantra, “We stand for kids who can’t.”
Despite being done in partnership with the national Children’s Miracle Network, the income from the event doesn’t go far from home, according to Dacquisto. The funds are donated to Sacred Heart Medical Centers in Eugene and Springfield, and with this year’s total being a whopping $24,137, the money can go a long way. Nationwide, these events have raised over $60 million since the marathons began in 1991. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals treats over 17 million patients and provides $2.5 billion in uncompensated charity care each year.
The money is not the only benefit of this philanthropic event, though. Many of those involved learn valuable leadership skills and develop a closer connection with their community. Families of kids who benefit from the fund raising attend the event, and many students look forward to it with excitement.
“It’s one of my favorite days of the year,” Dacquisto says. “It gives my birthday and Christmas a run for their money.”
Many come dressed for the event. One student wearing bright green shades, matching neon overalls, and a fake ‘70s style mustache said he was there to, “dance the night away, in hopes that some other kid can be a goof like me one day.”
For some students, like Jackson, it’s more personal.
“I had a cousin who was born prenatal, and she passed away after seven days.” Jackson said, “For me, that’s why I dance, that’s why I put this on, because I want to be able to help as many families as I can.”
The money raised, the connections built, and the memories made help spread an air of goodwill and cheer to those who have it hard in life. And after the ballroom empties and the students leave, there are kids out there left with a better chance, and smiling memories to carry them through whatever hardships they may endure.
