Students made an impact on the community during GW’s Dance Marathon last Saturday. Students from all organizations came to dance for 12 hours in support for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a local non-profit organization that raises money for over 170 children’s hospitals.
The event itself lasts 12 hours, it takes a year of fundraising, meeting, and planning to achieve their fundraising goal. Hosted in Hel-Well, dancers reported at 11:45 in the morning and stayed on their feet “For The Kids”, otherwise known as #FTK on all social media posting. The kids, are the children the charity supports, students stand for the kids who are too sick to stand on their own.
In order to attend the event, students had to fundraise a minimum of $50, yet, many went above and beyond because of how inspiring the non-profit’s efforts have been.
Above and beyond equated to great success because in only its second year, GW Dance Marathon raised more than double compared to the previous year. At midnight, the E-board gave the big reveal–they raised $77,402.38. The moment was very emotional since last year they raised $36,624.18.
This year, they surpassed their goal of $75,000.
“I think the most rewarding thing about being on committee was working alongside my DM family to work to reach our goal-and we succeeded. Doubled the funds. Doubled the dancers. Double the miracles. The most rewarding part of the marathon itself was the family and patient stories. It really makes it worth it seeing who you’re impacting and how they are benefitting from your service,” said freshman, Mikaela Phillips, a member of the GW Dance Marathon Committee.
At the end of the event all the participants gathered for a ceremony called the Circle of Hope. Everyone gathered around in a circle in the gym, as each person reflected on the evening and the impact they made. Meanwhile, families and children who were treated at CMN hospital came around and cut hospital bands off each participants wrist, showing that for each hour they stood and raised money, they helped a patient leave the hospital and stand on their own.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals treat over 17 million patients each year as well as training pediatricians and educating families and communities about child safety precautions.