Dance Marathon is not just one weekend a year of volunteer service from the student body and community.
The event, which is sponsored by the Dance Marathon Steering Committee in conjunction with the Children’s Miracle Network, raises money for the Mercy Children’s Hospital and is planned year-round.
“We tried to do a lot more the first semester so it could be seen as a yearlong event,” said Kari Rood, senior and director of Dance Marathon.
There are two major Dance Marathon events coming up in February that will be open to the public.
On Feb. 11 Mini Marathon will be held in the Union Ballroom from noon to 6 p.m. This Mini Marathon is meant to get high school students involved in Dance Marathon. For the first time, instead of having only Bowling Green High School participate, there will be five local high schools in the event. Eastwood High School, Lake High School, Anthony Wayne High School and Otsego High School will also be participating.
“We stepped up Mini Marathon from last year, where BGHS was our only participant, and a lot of highschoolers are getting into it,” said Kat Fish, senior and assistant director of external affairs.
Another big event for Dance Marathon will be a variety show, to be held in conjunction with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m in Anderson Arena.
This event will feature members of athletic teams showcasing various talents. In addition, a date auction involving athletes will be held at intermission. Tickets for the variety show will be $3 and will be on sale in the Union a week before the event.
The steering committee has branched out to try to get more first-year students involved in the event which raised $173,610.45 last year.
“I’ve been involved for five years, and the people on the steering committee this year have been totally different, we’re more united as a group with what we want to get achieved and what we are aiming to do,” Fish said.
As a result, there are already 150 more dancers and 100 more moralers signed up for the event this year than last year.
“Seeing how many students have come out to the events and overall meetings has been great, at big meetings with everyone there, you can just feel the spirit,” Rood said.
And there is still time to get involved.
“It’s great seeing the University coming together for the kids, them getting together and doing something even though they have other things to do,” said Jack Pence, senior and member of the internal affairs committee.
Editor’s Note: Those wishing to get involved as a dancer or moraler should contact Katrina Cadwell at [email protected] as soon as possible. Organizations wishing to get involved can contact Jack Pence at [email protected].
