You’ve seen the posters around school and the Facebook posts from all of your friends asking for donations, you recognize the hot air balloon logo and you’ve overheard whispers of staying up all night to dance. But what does it all mean? Collegiettes at The University of Utah, along with over 400 other high schools and universities across the United States, are all working for one cause: Fundraising and participating in a dance marathon for the Children’s Miracle Network, who has teamed up with the Huntsman Cancer Institute here locally at the U. You hear about it and see it all over the place, but what is CMN?
The Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization that raises money, usually a dollar at a time. You know when you’re at the store and they ask you to donate and in turn you get to write your name on a paper hot air balloon that will be displayed in the store? Yeah, this is for that organization. The large amount of money that is raised, OVER 5 BILLION DOLLARS, is given to hospitals all over the country to cover numerous expenses. Uncompensated care, new and improved machinery, high priced tests, and training are just a few of the things this money goes to. But most importantly it is saving kids’ lives each and every day.
The Children’s Miracle Network hospitals:
- Treat over 17 million patients each year.
- Treat 98% of all children needing heart or lung transplants.
- Treat 88% of all children with cancer.
- Treat 76% of all children with cystic fibrosis
- Treat 90% of all children with sickle cell anemia.
- Treat 72% of all children with pediatric AIDS.
- Train 60% of all pediatricians and 80% of all pediatric specialists.
- Educate families and communities about issues like child safety seats, bike helmets and bicycle safety.
- Provide $2.5 billion in charity (uncompensated) care each year.
62 sick children are entering one of these network hospitals, EVERY MINUTE. This large number includes your neighbors, cousins, and children going to the hospitals that are located here in the Salt Lake City valley. Utah has a long history being active with this charitable organization. The first phone-a-thon was held in Orem, Utah in 1983 by the Utah famous Osmond family. That first year, over 4 million dollars was raised, which led to the founding of the CMN organization. Since then, several companies, schools, and celebrities have teamed up with the Children’s Miracle Network to raise money and awareness.
You may be thinking, this is a huge organization that has raised this insane amount of money and has what seems to be an astonishing amount of volunteers and support. Why is my school working with this charity when it already has the prestige and funds to be impactful on its own? Well it’s not necessarily all about the money or what good it has done in the past. It is about the future and what we can do to make it better by helping to guarantee that this organization can continue doing what they do best, saving lives.
By joining in the cause and participating in the Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon, you are raising awareness. You’re dancing and participating in activities for TEN HOURS STRAIGHT for the little girl you nanny that was in a horseback riding accident who can’t dance. You’re spending the entire time proud and strong for your little brother who was diagnosed with cancer or your premature cousin who was born too early to finish developing her lungs or heart. By signing up for this event and by raising money, you are helping those that are too sick to do it for themselves anymore or those who have never been able to do it in the first place.
As the official, student run, philanthropy of our school, we have raised over $400,000 since 2006. The University of Utah’s dance marathon is being held January 29th from 4 pm to 2 am in the Rice Eccles Tower. If you have the extra funds that you would like to donate and/or if you would like to participate go to http://events.dancemarathon.com/event/rocktheu. Help keep up the awesome momentum that the collegiettes at the U have going, and get out and participate. Once you have registered or donated, follow in the footsteps of your friends and share on Facebook, send out emails, do whatever it takes to help these kids!
Do it for those that can’t. Dance your heart out, because you can. Gather donations, because you’re a good person. However you can contribute, just do it.