The O’Connell Center erupted with the cheers of 725 sleep-deprived dancers Sunday afternoon when UF’s Dance Marathon staff members announced they raised a record-breaking $517,260.79 to help sick children, an increase of more than $100,000 from last year’s earnings.
The dancers stood for 26.2 hours this weekend in support of the Children’s Miracle Network at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF.
The network, a nonprofit organization, raises funds to improve children’s health through education, research and medical care. Each year, 129 U.S. universities hold a dance marathon similar to UF’s.
Tracy Flack, UF journalism senior and spokeswoman for Dance Marathon at UF, said the large increase in the amount of money raised can be contributed to the the hard work and passion of the dancers and more than 350 staff members.
Team members set up donation booths to raise money throughout the weekend, and about 60 student organizations have been raising money from businesses and collecting donations for about a year.
The teams from Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and Kappa Delta Sorority received the Miracle Cup for earning the most combined spirit points, or participation points, and for raising the most money.
Throughout the weekend, more than 30 miracle families, stood on stage, shared their stories and thanked the dancers for supporting their children, who have been treated or are being treated at Shands Children’s Hospital.
One of these families, the Butlers, stood on stage and told the dancers about 1-year-old Charli, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 5-months-old.
“Thank you for being a part of making miracles happen and realizing there’s a bigger picture,” said Jamie Butler, Charli’s mother.
Jamie, along with her husband Aaron Butler, who returned from serving in Afghanistan the day Charli was diagnosed, visited their daughter at Shands for more than seven months. After being given a one in two chance of surviving and enduring several rigorous chemotherapy treatments, Charli is finally in remission from her cancer, Jamie said.
“It’s the little things like the double beds that were donated [by Children’s Miracle Network] that made a difference,” Jamie said in an interview.
When miracle families weren’t sharing their stories, the morale team led the annual line dance, which the dancers performed once every hour. This year, the 5.5-minute routine included clips of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley, among other songs.
There were also different theme hours to keep participants motivated. During the Toy Story-themed hour, participants could make Mr. Potato Heads with raw potatoes, pipe cleaners, buttons and plastic googly eyes. There was also a craft-making station where dancers could make green alien headbands and different game stations where they could race toy cars around cones or play Pictionary.
Dancers could go to the bathroom when they needed to, and families and friends could visit, bring food and donate $50 care packages. But dancers were not allowed to leave the ground floor of the arena and had to remain standing until the end of the marathon at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
First-year UF law student Matt Michel danced this year for his seventh time and said the foot pains are worth it.
“Of all the things I do at UF, I feel like I make the most of a difference doing this,” he said.
