While the University Dance Marathon is still a couple months away, participants are rehearsing their self-choreographed dances around campus and raising awareness about the event.
A project of the Children’s Miracle Network, the Dance Marathon raises money for children’s units at local hospitals and is present at more than 80 universities across the country.
“The Children’s Miracle Network basically saves mothers and fathers the hardship of losing a child, said University student Todd Mann, co-director of the morale and recruitment committee.
Mann said that seeing the pain on his mother’s face after the death of his 5-month-old brother made him want to prevent the experience of loss for other parents.
The 15-hour marathon, which will take place in January, will raise money for Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, specifically for the children’s cancer units and the neonatal units.
In its first year at the University, the program has signed up hundreds of people to be involved with the organization and register as participants. Mann said the event’s popularity is rising fast.
“It’s basically the fastest growing organization on campus,” he said, adding that the first year is the most difficult to recruit for because it’s difficult to paint a picture of what the actual event is.
The dancing will begin at 9 a.m. in the EMU Ballroom and will last until midnight. The day will be filled with themed and choreographed dancing, live local bands, games, University dance team performances, meals and snacks, and stories from children and their families.
“It’s a challenge to keep college students entertained for 15 hours,” Mann said, explaining that the day will be divided up into themed hours of music, such as ’90s or Disney music.
Julie Stevens, event director, has participated in six dance marathons and said the energy at the beginning of the day is usually as strong as a full-fledged party. She learned about the project in Ohio as an undergraduate, and she was shocked the University wasn’t participating when she came to Eugene for graduate school.
“It was probably the greatest thing I’ve done in my college career,” Stevens said. She still gets chills when she meets the families of the children who survived because of the money the project earned.
At the event, the children will learn the choreographed dances and until then they have the opportunity to meet participants and go on outings to the pumpkin patch, Chuck-E-Cheese’s in Portland and bowling.
Both individuals and groups, such as fraternities, sororities, residence halls and college political parties are getting involved with the event.
The recruitment committee meets every week to add to the 2:20 minute dance they have created. A walking dance is in the works and will be performed around campus.
“Obviously none of us are professional dancers, we are just out here to raise awareness,” Mann said. “You’re dancing for the children.”
Penn State and Florida State raise around $1 million each year, although most first year universities raise around $10,000. Mann thinks it will be closer to $40,000, which will be used to furnish an ambulance with infant-sized equipment.
The $25 registration fee will be used to fund the event and the money for Children’s Miracle Network is raised through letter-writing projects. Stevens said she raised $700 her first year through donations from her friends, family members and businesses.
To get involved with the Dance Marathon go to www.uoregon.edu/~uodm or pick up a registration form at the University adviser organization, the Leadership Resource Office, located in the EMU.
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