Why I Am For The Kids

Over the past few years at WIU I have been involved in different organizations on campus. One organization that has truly changed my life is Dance Marathon. If you have never heard of Dance Marathon it is a state-wide event that raises money for different Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals around the United States. The particular Dance Marathon our campus raises money for is the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in St. Louis. Our specific event at Western typically has over 400 participants and 30 Executive Board members. This event is only one day a year and to participate in it you must raise $100 and stand on your feet for 12 hours. Now I know that sounds super boring. However, the 12 hours represent a nurse’s shift at the CMN hospitals. The event at WIU is filled with fun activities, prizes, auctions, raffles, dancing, and so much more. Unfortunately, we have been unable to host an in-person event for the past two years and it has tremendously affected our program. Most people on campus dont know what Dance Marathon is or forgot it even existed. Since my sophomore year, I have been on the Executive Board and held positions such as Director of Merchandise, Director of Public Relations, and now I am the current Vice President of Finance. My passion for this organization has never died down and it is sad to see so few people on campus are engaged with Dance Marathon anymore. Especially since we are in a pandemic the kids in the hospital need our help more than ever. Our event this year will be held on March 27th and hopefully, the fundraising we have done for the past year will finally pay off. The event in 2019 was the last in-person event we’ve had and we were able to raise $166,182 all for the kids in the St. Louis Children’s Miracle Networks Hospital. I know that this year it would be unrealistic to aim for a goal that high when everyone in the world is struggling but any amount I will be happy and grateful for.