For those of you who weren’t at the O’Dome this weekend or have been living under a rock, Dance Marathon 2016 happened this past Saturday and Sunday. This was my first year dancing #FTK, and choosing to paticipate was one of the greatest decisions I have made during my college career, and it was a life-changing experience altogether.
Dance Marathon is a 26.2-hour annual event that benefits the children of UF Shands Children’s Hospital. Dancers stay awake and on their feet for 26.2 hours to raise both money and awareness for the Children’s Miracle Network. Here’s a fun fact for those who don’t know: Our university is the second largest successful Dance Marathon after Penn State (which makes its dancers go for 46 hours… so cray). Not only that, but this year we raised $2,434,315.18. #GoGators
More than 800 UF students, ranging for Greek organizations and dance clubs to the College of Medicine, danced and stayed on their feet for the duration of the event. Half of the money raised by these students goes to research, while the other half goes to education and patient care. I suggest you all take a tour of the hospital to see the direct impact DM makes.
This experience was emotionally and physically painful for all, but it reminds us that the pain we feel is a pain these children and their families feel every day at Shands Children’s Hospital.
I’m writing this to encourage all of you to get involved with this great cause one way or another! Whether it be supporting someone who directly participates in Dance Marathon or participating in it yourself, try to join this movement. It’s a lot of fun, but, most of all, it is extremely rewarding. The satisfaction you get from seeing the miracle children and their families thank you is unlike any other, and if you asked me to do this again knowing the physical pain I will receive, I’d say yes in a heartbeat. See you on the Dance Marathon dance floor in 2017, collegiettes!
Photo Credits: Dance Marathon at UF Facebook page