On March 8, 2020, Dance Marathon at FSU revealed that they had raised $1,941,368.54 for Children's Miracle Network and FSU College of Medicine Pediatric Outreach program. Being a part of the internal team for DM at FSU, we were on a high. We know that we did everything in our might to create those numbers, and we are proud of those numbers. However, some people were not proud of those numbers.

In years past, DM at FSU has released a goal for the year, but this year they did not. They wanted it to be so much more than just a goal. Last year, the goal was $2.4 million, and we raised $2.2 million, which is still an unbelievable number. The reaction from the external participants was disrespectful then, and this year, it was worse.

A writer for FSU News wrote an article on DM at FSU's fundraising efforts this year, but she used the words "fell short." Sure, it can look like we "fell short" from an external perspective, but I can assure you we did everything but fall short this year.

I was standing in the back of the Civic Center, unlike prior years, so I could hug on my team when the numbers went up. Tears were streaming down my face as I held hands with my fellow captains. At that moment, I realized that the amount means nothing, but as long as were are growing closer together, we are growing as a whole. I never thought it mattered about how much money we raised, just as long as we did everything we possibly could to make those numbers. The miracle families didn't see a "decrease," they saw hope. They see endless amounts of crayons that their children can use. They see renovations at Shands that wouldn't be there without Dance Marathon. They see beds that they sleep on when they have to spend countless nights at Shands fearing for their child's life. They see college students who would rather spend their days and nights hanging out with their children over partying. They see hope for the future because as long as there are 18-22-year-olds dancing for 20+ hours in the Civic Center in March, they are happy.

We aren't fighting for bigger numbers, we are fighting for a cure.

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