Dance Marathon is one of the largest philanthropic events at Iowa State and features 15 hours of fun, little kids and life-changing experiences. In its 11th year, Dance Marathon supports over 70 Iowa families by raising and donating money to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network.

According to ISU Dance Marathon’s Web site, Dance Marathon came to Iowa State in 1998 and was held in Beyer Hall; it raised $20,000. Throughout the past 10 years, Iowa State has raised more than $910,000 through Dance Marathon.

This Saturday, Dance Marathon’s 900 dancers will race into the Great Hall of the Memorial Union at 9 a.m. and stay until midnight Sunday morning, said Amanda Crawford, general co-director of Dance Marathon and senior in journalism and mass communication.

Crawford first joined Dance Marathon four years ago as a dancer.

“When I was a freshman, people from Dance Marathon came to talk to my learning community, and I thought it would be a good way to meet new people,” Crawford said.

As a freshman, Tyler Strom, senior in agricultural business, had no desire to join something that was going to require him to dance. However, after hearing the cause Dance Marathon supports, he “quickly stepped forward to support the worthwhile organization.”

Before the actual dance, each participant is required to raise at least $200 through fund-raising. In addition to individual fund-raising, Dance Marathon was able to host fund-raisers, such as selling walking tacos and “kicking it for the kids” cut-outs at Cold Stone Creamery, 1310 S. Duff Ave. Crawford also said that Dance Marathon held raffles, went door-to-door throughout Ames and held a duck race. The group also held “teal Tuesdays” on campus, during which dancers wore their teal-colored registration T-shirts.

“The fund-raisers are fun and good publicity,” Crawford said.

While fund-raisers raised a significant amount of money for Dance Marathon, the executive committee of the Marathon decided to publicize the event on Facebook, an idea started last year. There is a Dance Marathon group, along with profile pictures and messages that dancers and even non-participants can receive. Facebook was “a great way to reach people,” Crawford said. “I hope people who see it will wonder what [Dance Marathon] is and want to join.”

“Facebook has been a valuable asset to Dance Marathon,” Strom said. “The ability to constantly interact with participants and potential participants of Dance Marathon has been key to much of our success.”

The majority of dancers and participants in Dance Marathon are greek members who are involved because of their chapter’s philanthropy work. However, Crawford insisted that the Marathon is open to all students at Iowa State.

“We want to reach out to more people,” she said.

Strom has high hopes for student involvement in Dance Marathon’s service to children and their families in Iowa.

“I encourage all Iowa State students to participate in Dance Marathon at least once,” Strom said.

In fact, Dance Marathon has now started the Spirit Dancer program, in which a professor, friends of a sick child and non-ISU students may raise $100 and participate in Dance Marathon.

The most important part of Dance Marathon is the children and families from the Children’s Miracle Network. Nationally, Dance Marathon is a philanthropy for the Children’s Miracle Network, and the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital is the Iowa hospital though which the Network works, explained Crawford. The families and patients of the University of Iowa hospital then receive emotional and financial support.

“It’s everything from Spiderman Band-Aids to life-saving hospital equipment,” Crawford said.

All of the children who participate in the Children’s Miracle Network live in Iowa, many, even, around the Des Moines and Ames areas. Dance Marathon did such an extraordinary job helping children in the area last year that the group won the Story County Youth Volunteer Award, Crawford said.

Although the main event for the children is the marathon, some ISU students also had the chance to take the kids to a football game, basketball game and Adventureland. The Dance Marathon committee even hosted a “date night” for the parents of the children; parents were able to drop their kids off and enjoy a quiet evening as a couple without worries.

The children are also present during the entire Dance Marathon. In addition to dancing with live bands and a DJ, there are also inflatable games, swing dancing lessons, video games, care of Best Buy, 1220 S. Duff Ave., back rub chains and rock-paper-scissors tournaments.

There is also the morale dance, which is taught at the beginning of the marathon and performed every hour, on the hour, throughout the event.

Furthermore, no one is allowed to sit down during the entire 15 hours.

In addition to multiple activities, each hour of the marathon has a different theme. “It’s like a big after-prom party, but better,” Crawford explained.

There will also be a graduation ceremony, complete with gowns and a red carpet, for those children and families who no longer need the services of the Children’s Miracle Network.

Dance Marathon is “absolutely for the kids. It’s just an incredible 15 hours where they get to be the center of attention. It puts things into perspective,” Crawford said.

Strom could not agree more.

“The love for life these children have is a constant reminder to me why I participate in Dance Marathon.”