This is Dance Marathon Awareness Week, so today and Thursday the Daily is profiling two families involved in Dance Marathon. Today’s family is the Irlmeiers from Manning, Iowa.

For the Irlmeier family, Dance Marathon is a 15-hour long party with the ISU family.

“It’s neat,” said Donna Irlmeier, mother of six. “You walk in and people come in and give you a hug. It’s like seeing old friends. A really family feeling.”

With their kids in tow, Ron and Donna Irlmeier of Manning were one of the first 27 families to participate in Dance Marathon at the University of Iowa in 1995. Since then, the Irlmeiers have been involved with 11 Dance Marathons at the University of Iowa, Iowa State and Drake University.

Donna said her family was excited when they were asked to come to the first ISU Dance Marathon in 1997 because Iowa State is a shorter drive than the University of Iowa. But she said she can’t pick between Cardinal red and Hawkeye black and gold.

“I’m a Cyclone and a Hawkeye fan,” Donna said. “You have to be when you’re involved with both schools.”

The Irlmeiers learned about Dance Marathon after their youngest child, Laura, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1994 at 4 years old. While a patient at Children’s Hospital of Iowa in Iowa City, Laura underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. That year, she was given a bone marrow transplant with her brother, Kenneth, as the donor. Laura had her final in-patient stay at the Children’s Hospital in 1995. Now she’s a healthy 11-year-old.

For more than four years, the entire Irlmeier family has been a part of the ISU Dance Marathon growth. Donna said the first Dance Marathon in July 1997 was a long, hot day.

“It was in the basement of the State Gym. Then, it was so hot that they had to bring those big barn fans in,” she recalled. “The next year, it was bigger and better and it was moved to the Union.”

Since 1997, each and every Dance Marathon has been special to the Irlmeier family.

“You know the same kids since they were freshmen, then you have to say good-bye to them in a few years,” Donna said. “It’s hard sometimes. But they have to graduate and move on.”

Ellen Masker, co-director of public relations for Dance Marathon, said working with the Irlmeier family has given her a new perspective on life.

“Now I think how precious life is,” said Masker, junior in agricultural education. “They are one of my favorite families.”

In addition to dancing at the marathon, Donna said the organization has given a lot of emotional support to her family.

One of her favorites is the hospital care packages donated by Dance Marathon. She said the packages, containing coupons for food, gas and lodging, always made a hospital visit more comfortable.

“It makes the situation easier for parents,” Donna said. “It is a wonderful idea.”

Christmas is another time of year when Dance Marathon donations made the difference in the Irlmeiers’ family life. Donna said her children usually get one gift donated by the organization.

“They go ape over that stuff,” she said. “There is no way we could afford to buy them that kind of gift.”

Both Ron and Donna save their vacation days from work for Dance Marathon.

“I’ve got to go – even if I have to call in sick, I’ll go,” Donna said. “My boss has been very good about giving me time off for this. On Monday, he even asks, `How did it go?’ and `How much money did you raise?'”

Bronklyn Harms, co-director, said working with the Irlmeier family has made him loyal to Dance Marathon.

“It’s been a great experience,” said Harms, junior in marketing. “They are always really positive.”