Marathon dance to benefit hospital
Published Nov. 3, 2006
The Blue Note is holding Dance Marathon, a 24-hour fundraising event for the Children's Hospital, but there are more options that just dancing.
Admission is $5 for the event, which runs from 5 p.m. today until 5 p.m. Saturday. For $15, participants can get admission, food and a T-shirt. Event director Gavin Shelton said food will be served every hour. Once a person has paid admission, he or she can stay as long as he or she wishes.
Some of the event's highlights include live music tonight, then a tailgate and viewing of the MU football game against Nebraska on Saturday.
Event director Jacquelyn De Bonville said the event will have a new format, with the most notable change being three bands this year as opposed to one.
De Bonville said attendees can play the video game "Dance Dance Revolution" as a side attraction.
The Dance Marathon steering committee is part of a national association that benefits the Children's Miracle Network. Shelton said the group is the nation's largest collegiate philanthropy. The Columbia event will benefit the Children's Hospital on campus. According to the Children's Miracle Network Web site, the event was started in 1995.
Now dozens of schools and thousands of students participate.
"The Dance Marathon has quickly become, in the past few years, one of our top five fundraisers," said Dan Fowler, the Children's Hospital director of development.
Thirteen fraternities, sororities and other student organizations are participating in the event. The event planners created a point system. Organizations earn points based on participation, fundraising and donations. The winning organization will receive a party at The Martini Bar as a prize.
Event director Kristin Steinkamp said the highlight of the event will be seeing the families that will benefit from the money earned. Fowler said a few families with children at the hospital will be present at the beginning of the event to thank those who put the event together. As for a fundraising goal, Steinkamp didn't have one.
"We don't have a set objective because any amount we can give is just amazing," she said.