Editor’s Note: This is the last in a four-part series about what Dance Marathon does to help area children and their families.

Adrenaline was the main ingredient in the success of Dance Marathon 2002.

Three hundred and fifteen dancers, 100 volunteers and 30 families gathered at the Lied Recreation Center Saturday to raise $118,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network in Iowa City.

Although less money was raised than expected, everyone was pleased with the turnout.

“Every dollar is significant,” said Tom Klaus, Children’s Miracle Network adviser to ISU Dance Marathon. “This amount is amazing in our economy.”

Katie Ogden, poster child for ISU Dance Marathon, deals with a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria, or PKU.

Her liver doesn’t process protein efficiently, which causes the amino acid phenylalanine to build up in her bloodstream. Phenylalanine can cause mental retardation and nervous system damage if the amount is not regulated. The amount of the protein Katie consumes is carefully regulated.

Katie was sponsored by four dancers and a morale captain throughout the day. The students were representatives of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Maple-Willow-Larch.

Katie was constantly in motion during the 15-hour event.

“She’s energetic and all over the place,” said Alex Hill, freshman in engineering and one of Katie’s morale team members.

“[My favorite part of Dance Marathon] is dancing, playing games and making new friends,” Katie said.

Many activities were planned throughout the day. An arcade, including Foosball and ping-pong tables, a mini golf course, a climbing wall, hula-hoops and other games were available.

Of course, dancing was the major attraction for all involved.

Hans Layman was nominated most motivated male dancer. Layman won the award at last year’s Dance Marathon and had advice for less experienced dancers.

“I told people to pace themselves [but] if you keep dancing, you don’t feel the pain,” he said.

Layman, junior in chemical engineering, said it helps to remember his pain is 100 times less than the pain the children have suffered.

“They’re rock stars,” he said.