When I was sophomore in college, I attended an incredible fundraiser that changed my life. That event was Dance Marathon.
Dance Marathon is a nationwide movement, involving college and high school students across the country who raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in their communities. Some events may take up to 48 hours, while some may just be a 12 hour event. These hours represent the shifts doctors, nurses and caregivers have while they are helping the children. Also, during these hours, you cannot sit. Some Dance Marathons have a no caffeine rule. During the event there are numerous activities, entertainment, speakers, stories from the families and of course, a lot of dancing. Every hour has its own theme. At the end of that hour, the excited and energetic morale team comes out and teaches the participants the dance, and then everyone does it together.
I wasn't kidding when I said this event changed my life. I attended my first year as a dancer, and then the year after I was on the executive board, so I helped plan the event and put it all together. Executive board works very hard to make this event a success. We sometimes even went to the extremes of shaving beards and getting tattoos to get people's attention for fundraising. We worked hard and fundraised for a year all the way through the day of Dance Marathon.
Why would we work a year ahead of time? To raise money For The Kids of course!
Dance Marathon is not just an event that happens in one day. It all makes sense when those families step on stage and tell their stories, stories that are very hard to speak about. What the parents had to sacrifice, the pain their children went through that they couldn't stop and the money they had to spend to keep their children healthy. All of these families are so strong. They stand on stage and thank us. They keep a smile on their face and are all just happy they are alive and together. This is what makes the reveal of our fundraising goal so special.
At the end of the event, once all of our donations are counted up, we write them on giant posters and head to the stage. The families of the children all hold the cards and flip them one at a time. The suspense is intense before that last number is flipped. When that last number goes up, excitement and sometimes tears strike. That is the moment everyone in the room can look at the hard work they put in. It's the moment when the families can see how much the community really supports them and Children's Miracle Network. It is where we all look at the large amount of money that will be going to children in need. It is the moment we waited all day to see. It is the best moment of the entire event.
That was the moment that changed my life. When I saw those cards flip, tears of joy fell down my face. This was followed by disbelief and awkward dancing across the stage while hugging all of executive board. Everyone who fundraised for this event in that moment knew the real potential they had to make a difference in someone else's life. They noticed the countless hours they gave up to help donate to Children's Miracle Network was completely worth it. They saw how happy everyone was in the room that this money was saving a life. Maybe even numerous lives.
Sit back, and really think about it. You are saving lives. That's truly incredible.
After all of my excitement, I stopped and looked around the room. Everyone was jumping, screaming, smiling, crying and dancing. It was a movie moment for sure. In that moment, I saw how amazing this event was. I saw how much a community can really come together and make a difference. It is life changing. It's a miracle.
FTK!
