An estimated 850 volunteers danced for twelve hours throughout Saturday to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network@@http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/dchf/fundraising/cmn/@@ as part of the sixth-annual Dance Marathon at the University.@@this was two years ago and it says 4th, so 6th for this year should be right http://www.pitchengine.com/universityoforegondancemarathon@@
Throughout the day, dancers watched videos pertaining to the Children’s Miracle Network, listened to encouragement and appreciation from families and interacted with children afflicted by premature birth. The event raised $28,919@@http://www.helpmakemiracles.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.eventDetails&eventID=888@@ for local Eugene and Springfield hospital pediatric and neo-natal care units.
A theme of “keep standing” permeated the dance floor as a symbolic gesture to how parents and visitors often stand and wait while inside the neo-natal care units of hospitals.

“As the hours go on, (the dancers) get tired and begin to question why they are here. That’s when they start to get it,” program co-director Chris Bocchicchio said.@@http://twitter.com/ChrisBocchicchi@@
With a smile on her face, Amy Dawson@@http://m.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110923/NEWS/109230344/-1/WAP&template=wapart&m_section=@@, a mother of a child at the event, watched dancers from the entrance of the ballroom as it boomed with high-energy music.
“I think it’s awesome that youth are willing to help people that they don’t know,” Dawson said.
Outside the ballroom, children played with volunteers and prepared for events planned throughout the day by coordinators.
Volunteers’ involvement at the Dance Marathon has increased over the years. Most began as dancers and eventually took on bigger and more complex positions after realizing the significance of their efforts in aiding hospitalized children.
“I had a minimal role at first, just as a dancer, but seeing families onstage and just being here made me want to get more involved,” volunteer Mekhala Dissanayake @@http://www.helpmakemiracles.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=888&participantID=75620@@said while passing a ball to an eager child.
This year, students from Oregon State University also came to participate and learn about the event, with hopes of starting their own Corvallis Dance Marathon in the future.
As for the University’s dance marathon and its future, Bocchicchio seemed content.
“We are really trying to get more people every year to dance and volunteer,” Bocchicchio said. “I think philanthropy is starting to catch on in Eugene.”