Who doesn’t love to dance? This past Sunday, Emmanuel College’s Dance Marathon team hosted the event “Dance for the Kids” to help fundraise for Boston Children’s Hospital. The event consisted of salsa, hip hop, and line dancing, as well as zumba, so there was something for everyone! Dancers were also asked to bring one or more children’s books to the event which would be donated to local children’s facilities to help children start reading. Roughly 35 people were in attendance and everyone seemed to have a great time!
Hip hop instructor Juston Scott from Berklee came in to teach us how to do “freestyle” which was much harder than expected (props to the dancers out there)! We also learned some spicy salsa dances and we burned off some calories with zumba.
One of the best parts of the event was having a miracle family there with us. This family had a daughter who suffered from and survived leukemia after a bone marrow transplant. This family has been to every single one of Emmanuel College’s Dance Marathon main events and it was amazing to spend time with them and hear their story. You would never guess their daughter battled leukemia from the way she was dancing and playing around.
Dance Marathon is a national organization held in countless colleges and universities throughout the country, all of whom raise money for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. The hope is that the money raised will help improve the lives of the children and their families during their times of need.
Dance Marathon first came to Emmanuel College in 2012 and started off with a bang, raising $18,587.51 when their goal was only $15,000. Last year, EC Dance Marathon raised the incredible amount of $122,922.69, which put Emmanuel College as the number one fundraiser in Boston and number two in New England. This year (2016-2017) the goal is $125,000! Hopefully this will all be raised before March 25th, the day when Emmanuel College participants come together to pull an all nighter
At the event itself, students pledge to stand the entire night because they are standing for the children who can’t. At the event there is food, live performances, games, and most importantly, dancing! In the morning, some of the children who have conquered their diseases come visit and play with the students before we announce the big reveal.
March 25 is a long ways away, but the Dance Marathon team won’t be sitting around doing nothing. Along with Dancing for the Kids, EC Dance Marathon has many bake sales and hosts EC Dancing with the Stars, a night where EC staff compete with students in a dancing competition.
Dancing for the Kids turned out to be a small event filled with people who are excited for the cause, thus making the event a success. This year’s Dance Marathon is turning out to be bigger and better than ever, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!
For info on how to get involved, go to http://www.ecdancemarathon.com/ to register or donate to Dance Marathon!