Dance Marathon tests limits, conviction
Hundreds of participants stayed on their feet this weekend for Dance Marathon, an annual charity event that raised around $177,000 this year.
The experience was fantastic for participants and donors alike. Parents and children who received some of the money that Dance Marathon has raised in the past came to express their gratitude for the hard work and sleepless night that participants endure. Though it is nothing like what parents with sick children go through, Dance Marathon allows students to catch a glimpse of what it might feel like to have a child in the hospital.
I participated in the 2011 Dance Marathon, and it was a wonderful experience. It was the first time I had stayed awake for an entire 24 hours — let alone danced that long. By the end, I was completely delirious. Yet the stories I heard and people I met and helped made it completely worth it.
Of the 500 participants at the 2012 Dance Marathon, only about 30 were males. Mostly freshman sorority members partake in the experience, amounting to huge numbers of females dancing and raising money. Though a couple fraternities had members participate, I believe more should take the initiative to raise money and help these kids. Dance Marathon is a great experience and allows you to appreciate the life you have. You can share the experience with some of your closest friends, and the more diverse the participants, the better the results.