More than 600 dancers raise nearly $225,000 for annual event
As dancers eagerly shuffled into the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center’s dimly lit basketball court, 11-year-old Keldon Hemingway was getting ready to dance.
“I’m pumped,” said Hemingway, a “Miracle Child” from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Hemingway is no stranger to the university. He’s participated in multiple Dance Marathons at USC, including last weekend’s, as well as other on-campus events.
When he was 6, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has undergone a number of surgeries since. His mother, Sheila Hemingway, said she’s incredibly thankful for USC Dance Marathon (USCDM).
“The hospital needs stuff like this because people need to know there are children out there that are sick and dying,” Sheila Hemingway said. “I’m eternally grateful for them doing this every year.”
She also said she appreciates Keldon’s participation in USCDM.
“He doesn’t have to be just a patient; he can participate in raising money for the same hospital that’s helped him,” Sheila Hemingway said.
The event raised a total of $224,510, which represents a fundraising increase of nearly 27 percent from last year’s $177,229.
Gamma Phi Beta raised the most for this year’s event — $22,855, according to Lindsay Church, its public relations director. USCDM has raised more than $1 million since 1999 and is the largest student-led philanthropy in South Carolina. All proceeds go to the Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, which treats more than 80,000 children each year and is the only freestanding children’s hospital in the state.
In all, 658 dancers participated in the event — up from about 500 last year — and they had a lot activities to keep them dancing, including games, contests and live entertainment from performance groups like the USC Morale Captains.
Student Body Vice President Chase Mizzell, a head morale captain, said that hearing from Miracle Children and their parents throughout the night made “24 hours seem like a short amount of time.”
“It wasn’t an obligation to … stay for 24 hours, but it was an opportunity to stand for 24 hours (and) make a difference in these kids’ lives,” the president-elect said.
Kelly Ballance, a second-year sports and entertainment management student, danced for Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, which raised a total of $8,658.89 for the cause.
“It was absolutely one of the most inspirational and impacting things I’ve been a part of,” Ballance said. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
And as for Keldon Hemingway, his days at USC aren’t over yet, he said.
“I plan on coming (here) in the future,” he said.