You might be wondering what exactly is Dance Marathon? Let me provide some background history for you: Dance Marathon is a nationwide movement involving college and high school students at more than 450 schools across the country, all raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital (CMNH) in their community. The most incredible thing about this organization is that 100 percent of the money raised will be given to the local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. As a result, all of the money that we raise will from this event serve the needs of the children right here in Baton Rouge!
This past weekend on March 4-5, I, along with 36 of my Phi Mu sisters and several other LSU students from different organizations joined together for Dance Marathon's third annual fundraiser in the Parker Coliseum. Together this past year, we have been working hard to raise money for the kids at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. Oftentimes we take our physical health and bodies for granted. As a result, this weekend, we dedicated ourselves to standing, dancing, and staying awake for 26.2 hours in honor of those kids fighting for their life. During the event, each hour began with a ten minute dance, then a personal story from a family impacted from CMNH, followed by an FTK (for the kids) chant.
Maybe you're wondering what its like to be standing and awake for 26.2 hours. Or maybe your wondering what exactly goes on in Parker during that time? Let me take a minute to break down my thoughts and experiences with during each hour.
1. 6 p.m.
The journey begins, there's no turning back. The candle of hope was lit in honor of all the kids fighting for their life.
2. 7 p.m.
We were taught the 10-minute dance that would be performed every hour on the dot. Yes, that means at 3 a.m., 4 a.m., 5 a.m., etc... full out, high energy!
3. 8 p.m.
I realized that I did not know the dance choreography well at all.
4. 9 p.m.
DM turned into a zoo, and the energy remained alive because this was going to be like one huge sleepover.
5. 10 p.m.
Activities, yes! Hello, duct tape wallets, pipe cleaners, coloring books, water pong and soccer balls.
6. 11 p.m.
7. Midnight
Time to call some visitors before dark hours.
8. 1 a.m.
Sure, why not eat.
9. 2 a.m.
It hurts worse when you aren't moving. What did I get myself into?
10. 3 a.m.
People I never knew where involved in DM started appearing. Also, a great time to casually catch up with people you haven't seen in months while tie dying shirts.
11. 4 a.m.
Walked around aimlessly discovering the study room which provided some peace and quiet among the nonstop throwback music.
12. 5 a.m.
Zumba coming in clutch to get the energy thriving again. I mean nothing can compare to a 5 a.m. morning workout class after a night of absolutely no sleep.
13. 6 a.m.
Wow, never been so happy to see daylight in all my life.
14. 7 a.m.
A new day begins. Time to restart, brush teeth, wash face and freshen up for another day of dancing and FTKing.
15. 8 a.m.
Reality check: My pain doesn't at all compare to the story we heard of a little girl named Kelly whose been to the hospital 64 times for a least one week at a time.
16. 9 a.m.
"I wonder if they are going to let us do sigh surrender?" That would be a negative, nevertheless, yoga never felt this good in all my life. Namaste.
17. 10 a.m.
It was that dark hour where I needed to turn to the candle of hope for inspiration. This led me to playing with the kids giving me an extra FTK reminder.
18. 11 a.m.
Realized that not driving home later was great advice because being tired and being drunk go hand in hand. Nothing was processing anymore, but thankfully I received a coffee delivery that made my dark hour a little more bearable.
19. Noon
Thank you caffeine for giving me another wind, now I'll proceed with cartwheels and handstands because standing on my hands felt better than standing on my feet.
20. 1 p.m.
Push hour. We worked together and raised almost $10,000 for pediatric poles for the kids!
21. 2 p.m.
After performing the dance 21 times, I realized the choreography of the dance was second nature, and that it truly was an energy booster than can change your life.
22. 3 p.m.
It was a three-hour countdown until 6 p.m., which then meant only two hours left until 8 p.m. Everything is numb, but by this point, we've mastered how to cope with it.
23. 4 p.m.
Even eating was getting exhausting. Food had turned into an emotional tactic.
24. 5 p.m.
We were reminded of Daisy's story who was diagnosed with a rare, incurable autoimmune disease. She truly is one of the most inspiring kids in the world and gave me strength to continue on.
25. 6 p.m.
Energy level is on fire because there is only two hours left.
26. 7 p.m.
A whole hour of raving and jumping, followed with tears from finding out that we surpassed last years total of $182,672.45 and raised $265,839.69 all FOR THE KIDS! This hour concluded with everyone collapsing to the floor all trying to process what in world was going on!
Yes indeed, it was a party in Parker! After doing a 10-minute dance 26 times, and after listening to 26 different stories, my heart is incredible humbled and full from the light these kids bring! I have no question in my mind that God brings strong fighter and survivors like these into the world to show us the kind of love and joy we should be spreading. This Dance Marathon was truly something I will never forget, and I wouldn't of rather spent my weekend anywhere else but locked up in a barn dancing, playing, laughing and crying with a bunch of cool kids.
man running in forestPhoto by 
