Students danced for 16 hours in Carmichael Gym beginning at 7 p.m. for Dance Marathon Friday to raise a total of $41,022.59 for children suffering from chronic illnesses.
Proceeds from the second Dance Marathon were donated to Duke Children’s Hospitals, one of 120 hospitals within the Children’s Miracle Network.
According to Alanna Propst, a junior in political science and president of Dance Marathon, the organization has raised more than $100,000 in two years for Duke Children’s Hospital, and next year’s event is predicted to be one of the biggest Dance Marathons in the state.
According to Propst, 400 people registered for the event, but about 200 students attended.
“It is normal for every Dance Marathon across the country to see about half of people registered show up,” Propst said. “We were right on target for that.”
According to Propst, once a participant signs up for Dance Marathon, he or she then takes on the task of raising a donation of $100 or more before dancing in the event.
Alan Sheridan, an N.C. State alumnus, began Dance Marathon at the University last year after he saw the event held at UNC-Chapel Hill and thought N.C. State could do it better.
To keep dancers awake and entertained, various entertainers performed every hour throughout the night, Propst said. Performers included Grains of Time, Fusion Dance Crew, Ladies in Red, Dances With Wolves and NCSU Nazaare, among others.
“Basically any singing or dance group on campus was there,” Propst said.
According to Propst, Chancellor Randy Woodson and Mike Mullen, associate provost for the Division of Undergraduate Education, and various student leaders attended to support the cause. Miss North Carolina also attended and sang for participants, Propst said.
Jessica Tiger, a junior in psychology, said hearing the family’s testimonies about how the Children’s Miracle Network helped them was one of the most rewarding parts of the event.
“You don’t get to hear about that every day,” Tiger said. “I think it’s great that we get to actually hear personally from the families about what our money is helping.”
Propst said she initially became involved with Dance Marathon because she wanted to do something different from other events on campus, and increased her own involvement after making a personal connection with the cause.
“I started to meet the kids and get to know them, and I was so excited to see all the new faces grow and develop a friendship with the kids and families,” Propst said. “It really melts your heart.”
Propst said she thinks Dance Marathon is the only event on campus that could bring a person from every facet of N.C. State together to support one goal.
“Dance Marathon is not for Greeks, University Housing, UAB or IRC alone, but it can bring people from all of those groups into one location,” Propst said. “Everyone can get together to be a part of Dance Marathon.”
Tiger, who stayed all 16 hours, said supporting the cause was definitely worth the time she spent awake.
Heather Griffin, a junior in animal science, said she enjoyed the community aspect of Dance Marathon in addition to the charitable aspect.
“I feel like we all bonded as a community here tonight,” Griffin said. “I think we’ve all become a lot closer.”
Tiger said she was interested in trying Dance Marathon after hearing good things from friends about last year and because the proceeds support a great organization.
“I wanted to give something back to an organization that deserves it,” Tiger said.
