About 725 students will stand up to help the Children’s Miracle Network this weekend at the 16th annual Dance Marathon at UF.
Starting noon Saturday, dancers will stand for 26.2 hours, which represents the length of a marathon, dancers will remain on their feet and raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF.
The network raises money for children’s hospitals and helps sick or injured children.
Kenny Brighton, the director of Dance Marathon, said the children and families who have been treated at Shands and have been supported by the Children’s Miracle Network will come to share their stories and motivate the dancers to dance on. Each hour of the marathon has a youthful theme like “Toy Story” and “Wild Wild West.”
This year, UF personalities like UF first lady Chris Machen, Student Body President-elect Ashton Charles and Student Body President Jordan Johnson will play Celebrity Jailbreak from Dance Marathon jail. People can call in with “bail money” to donate and free the jailbirds.
Last year, Dance Marathon at UF raised more than $413,000. No fundraising goal was set for this year.