Marquette’s Dance Marathon Stands For Those Who Can’t

Marquette’s Dance Marathon Stands for Those Who Can’t

It’s really a sight to see when a group of people comes together to stand in solidarity for others.  It’s even better when that group of people happens to raise $84,000 in the process. 

Dance Marathon Marquette is an organization that works year-round to raise money for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.  Their hard work culminates in a campus-wide event:  an 8-hour dance marathon with a steep fundraising goal and a challenge:  no caffeine and no sitting down for the entirety of the event. 

Dance Marathon has always been a student-led effort; the first dance marathon was hosted in 1991 at Indiana University in remembrance of a fellow student who had passed away from HIV/AIDS.  Today, the money garnered from each chapter of the Dance Marathon organization goes directly to the school’s local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.  As a greater organization, Dance Marathon raised $26 million in 2016 alone For The Kids (FTK).

This year, Dance Marathon Marquette had a goal of $75,000.  In the months leading up to the Big Event, dancers signed up alone or on teams to raise money in anticipation of the 8-hour event.  Teams were representative of various groups on campus, with Alpha Phi being the highest fundraising team across campus. 

Ultimately, Dance Marathon exceeded their fundraising goal of $75,000 for the Big Event, raising $84,003.14 for the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.  This massive success is a testament to the resilience of the kids who are affected by illness and their families, and to the capability of a group of people to make genuine change when they come together and stand in solidarity for others.

• Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
• dance marathon