Members of the Iowa State community, including 200 students, boogied to raise $17,598 Sunday for Iowa families whose children are living with cancer.

The evening’s Dance-a-Thon, organized by an 18-member executive committee within the ISU greek system, featured a variety of speakers, entertainment and activities.

ISU President Martin Jischke, Cyclone football Coach Dan McCarney and a number of other speakers introduced the event, and local folk rock band The Nadas provided part of the day’s music.

The Dance-a-Thon also included a student from the University of Iowa who is battling Hodgkin’s Disease, and a 13-month-old child with cancer from Fort Dodge.

Dawn Wade, senior in sociology and director of the Dance-a-Thon, said she was not expecting such a high number of donations.

“We thought we raised about $10,000,” she said. “At the end of the day, we still didn’t know, but we had little kids come up to the stage and flip over cards [stating the final figure].”

Wade, who is a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, said she believed about $400 more in donations from the community have been contributed since Sunday night.

About 200 ISU students, primarily from the greek system, pledged money to participate, including a $25 entry fee and $50 of donations.

“We’re anticipating to double the number of dancers and raise two to three times more money,” she said about next fall’s Dance-a-Thon.

Organizers of the event plan to attract residence hall students for the next Dance-a-Thon. Wade said one plan includes acquainting students with children living with cancer.

Wade said watching students interact with the children and their families was inspirational.

Kim Warren, senior in hotel, restaurant and institution management and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, said she decided to participate in the Dance-a-Thon after hearing about it from other members of her sorority.

“It was an excellent activity to get involved with,” Warren said. “Just to see the looks on the kids’ faces is worth it.”