Fifteen hours — that’s 900 minutes. Or in college terms: one tailgate, game and post-game celebration; five three-hour naps; one well-written research paper and a semester’s worth of time waiting in the lines at the Union Drive Community Center.

Fifteen hours in Dance Marathon, Iowa State’s largest student-run philanthropic event, is 15 hours that can change not only the life of a sick child, but the participant’s life as well, said Heather Daniel , senior in early childhood education and Dance Marathon general co-chairperson.

That is the impact Dance Marathon can provide, and with the 2009 event just nine days away, the opportunity to become a dancer is still open to anyone wishing to participate. This year’s marathon will take place from 9 a.m. to midnight on Jan. 24, in the Memorial Union.

“Participating in Dance Marathon may take away a typical college weekend, but it is something that will change your life and something you will never forget,” Daniel said.

Dancers stand for the duration of the event to recognize the families for their strength throughout challenging times.

All proceeds benefit the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network .

To date, over $1 million has been collected by ISU Dance Marathon since its inception in 1998. Past funds have gone toward hospital renovations, a new playroom and training devices for doctors.

Last year Dance Marathon raised $190,000. Organizers revealed the total by opening umbrellas, each displaying one digit of the amount raised.

“Watching the umbrella open up with the number nine on it, meaning we raised $190,000, was amazing,” said Lindsey Loomer, junior in advertising and Dance Marathon public relations and communications chairperson. “I was on the recruitment and morale committee, and realizing that from my freshman year to my sophomore year there was a $30,000 increase was incredible.”

Those moments are what drive former dancers to become more active with the event as leaders and organizers.

“Each day I know that I am doing something that is bigger than me, something that truly changes lives and makes a difference. I feel that Dance Marathon is honestly one of the best things I have ever done in my life,” Daniel said.

The children and families helped by the event make special appearances throughout the day and provide a first-hand experience of the progress the marathon creates.

“Dance Marathon has a tremendous impact. Some people think, ‘I’m just one person,’ but they need to realize their efforts are compounded with everyone else involved,” said Clark Richardson, senior in agricultural business and Dance Marathon general co-chairperson. “From almost everyone involved I’ve heard it is one of the best experiences of their time at ISU.”

Raising $200 assures a student entrance to a day of dancing, games and live entertainment.

“The effort you put into raising the $200 is worth it and really not hard at all. A lot of people don’t want to ask people for money or just raise that much in general, but until you come to our event, you don’t realize how easy it was for how rewarding it is,” Loomer said.

For 15 hours the echoes of hundreds of students “kickin’ it for the kids” will be heard throughout the Memorial Union. There is still time to join and become part of the difference the organizers of the marathon are planning to make.

How to sign up

Go to https://www.kidsmiracles.org/Page.aspx?pid=530

Click on “sign up here”

Create an account, pick the event and pay the registration fee, which can be charged to students’ U-bills:

   1. Sign in to AccessPlus

   2. Click on the Student tab

   3. Select Campus Org Events

   4. Click Browse Open Events

   5. Choose Dance Marathon 2008 rgstrn

   6. Click “Bill Me”