Dance Marathon

DANCERS RAISE RECORD-BREAKING

"It is really helping kids and it is only 36 hours of your life. You suffer a little bit, but nothing compared to them."

DONATION

Michael tulim

Standing away from a crowd of dancers, twoand-a-half-year-old Chas Lunseth, outpatient at Riley Hospital for Children, plays with a balloon at Dance

Marathon. Patients of the

hospital attended the event to support the dancers.

CL

So keep working hard for those sick little ones And know deep in your heart that good's being done. Because what you are doing helps make miracles each day. For you give of yourselves in an unselfish tray."

Participants in the timrth annual Dance Marathon kept these words of their creed close to heart the weekend of Oct. 14-16 while they were raising money for the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

The goal of the Marathon, which was met, was to raise more than S i 00,000 to be donated to Riley Hospital for Children. The donation helped defer the costs of the $40 million construction of an infectious disease center named after AIDS victim and Hoosier Ryan White. "The best part of the weekend was at 8 a.m. on Sunday when they announced the amount of money that was raised," junior Melissa Pogue, member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, said. "All the kids and parents were clapping and crying when they heard the amount we raised."

The success of the event, totaled at $101,000, topped the combined donations of past,years. The first Dance Marathon in 1991 raised $11,000, in 1992 it raised $23,000, and last year's pulled in more than $66,000. "This year is fantastic," said senior Jason 'rest, president of the ILI Dance Marathon committee. "We have gotten so much participation."

More than 1,000 dedicated participants, from dancers to committee members, began planning and organizing the event immediately following last year's marathon. The goal of each of the 500 dancers was to raise $200.

To do this, dancers wrote letters to Eimily and friends, participated in miss-a-meal programs through their dorms and obtained pledges.

A Climb for Kids and Mass Canning Extravaganza were also held to raise additional funds. At the Sept. 25 Climb for Kids, participants organized into groups and raced to the top of Memorial Stadium. A $3 donation was asked of all participants. Participants also collected money at the Oct. 1 home football game. This Mass Canning Extravaganza solicited donations from spectators entering the game. "This year we did a lot more for Dance Marathon. We sent cards to the kids, went to visit them and made banners. As a sorority, we also raised more money," Pogue said.

But the focus of the fundraising was the 36-hour dance held at the 1U Fieldhouse. Beginning at 8 p.m. Oct. 14, dancers tested their endurance during the marathon by being allowed to stop for only meal breaks. During these breaks, participants could eat, use the restroom or rejuvenate themselves. "I am not tired, just sore," senior Cathi McKellar said Saturday afternoon. "I am looking forward to being able to eat so I can sit down."

But despite the physical exhaustion and temporary pain, all of the dancers agreed that the benefits of their efforts far outweighed the inconveniences.

It is really helping kids and it is only 36 hours of your life. You suffer a little bit, but nothing compared to them," sophomore Valerie Ziegler said.

Many of the dancers in fact had the opportunity to interact with the children fin- whom the money was being raised. They talked with children, played games with them or participated in any other activity they wished. continued

nelittle girl came up to me and we began talking," freshman Kim McIntire said. "She brought her bubble solution so we blew bubbles together for a while. It was a very touching experience." "There was a little boy named Vincent, who I also spent time with at last year's marathon," Pogue said. "He has cerebral palsy, but this year when I saw him, his condition was much better. He was much more attentive, and I was happy to sec that he was doing better."

Test agreed the presence of the children and their families kept the dancers going. "It is such a morale booster to see the children they arc helping," he said.

The morale committee organized other events to encourage the dancers. They held ice-breakers, taught country line dancing and made games such as putt-putt and basketball available. In addition, a comedy troupe and several dance groups performed throughout the weekend.

Twelve local bands, including Shade, Naildrivcrs, Situation Grey and the Housemarvs also performed for free. Senior Amy Nevin, entertainment director, said the bands were extremely supportive of their cause. "It says a lot about the Bloomington music scene," Nevin said.

From the bands to the committee members to the dancers, participants agreed that the Dance Marathon was a worthwhile experience, not only because of the amount of money it raised, but for the number of lives it touched. ei

Mary Nicewanger and Kathy Revtyak

Sophomore Nikki Hughes hugs sophomore Lyndsey Hillis during the fourth annual Dance Marathon.

Participants danced for 36 hours to raise money for the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY A. DANCE MARATHON

I1994

Michael Julius