At Purdue University, there are so many terrific extracurricular activities that you can participate in. Choosing the activities that are right for you can seem overwhelming, but there is one event that every Purdue student should participate in at least once in their college career... Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM)! Here are some of the reasons that you should get excited about PUDM!

1. Meeting New People

One of the main reasons that we are encouraged to get involved on campus is to meet new people! Whether it's fellow dancers, committee members, or even Riley families, you are guaranteed to meet new friends. Sarah Rominger, executive chair of the Special Events committee, says it best: "PUDM is an organization that introduces you to people that you would never have met or befriended otherwise. It's a group that allows you to love and be loved back!"

2. Leadership Opportunities

PUDM gives individuals the opportunity to experience different leadership positions. While many people choose only to participate in the Dance Marathon as a dancer, there are many different ways that you can involve yourself even further (if you want the extra challenge). PUDM has many different committees for students to serve on and if you're feeling drawn to participate, even more, you could serve on the executive board! Any of these opportunities will provide you with valuable skills that will benefit you in the future.

3. Giving Back To The Community

During PUDM you will likely hear the phrase "FTK", which stands for "For The Kids". The money raised during PUDM is donated to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis to benefit the children who rely on the hospital's services. Some of this money is allocated to fund the salary of a child life specialist who helps the families cope with the hospital setting. Everything dance is truly FTK!

4. Having A Great Time

While PUDM is so much more than hours of dancing and having fun, it also is a great opportunity to forget about the stress of classes and have a great time! For 18 hours we get the chance to let loose and dance. It's a blast!

5. Be Inspired

Every week leading up to the Dance Marathon, we are inspired by our "Riley Kid of the Week". These are children who are currently in treatment at Riley Children's Hospital. By reading their stories, you will be inspired to live your life to the fullest and to help others in need!

Sure... you could pick other activities on campus to participate in, but PUDM will leave you feeling so happy and inspired that you couldn't imagine doing anything else!

If you would like to donate to the cause, please click on and share this link! Thank you for helping support the kids: http://donate.rileykids.org/site/TR/DanceMarathon/...