Much of my spring semester has been spent with the rest of the Purdue University Dance Marathon community building our committees and getting the year off to a fantastic start for the families at Riley Hospital for Children. We've got over 300 amazing committee members in our PUDM family, and it's almost time for us to start recruiting dancers. Dancers are the life-blood of PUDM. They are the pulse, a pulse that beats for one purpose: to end childhood illness.

What is a dancer and what do they do? Being a dancer requires the lowest level of involvement in PUDM, but each and every one of them are absolutely necessary. A dancer has no obligation other than to raise the $250 minimum and attend the marathon in November. It's the dancers that account for the numbers, provide the energy, and fuel and the atmosphere of PUDM when the marathon finally gets here next semester. Without the dancers, we don't have a marathon.

Why become a dancer? If you were on the fence about joining a PUDM committee in recent weeks and decided it wasn't the right time for you, now is your time. Becoming a dancer is a great way for you to get your feet wet in an organization that has touched countless lives and inspired countless people to make a difference. At the marathon, you'll have the opportunity to meet everyone else in the PUDM community throughout the 18 hours. You'll also have the chance to become closer to the cause. You can meet and hang out with the Riley families, hear their stories and be inspired by their courage and positivity. Becoming a dancer was what started me on my journey toward serving on the executive board. Becoming a dancer for PUDM quite literally changed my life and has allowed me to change the lives of children and families in need.

How do I become a dancer? Dancer call outs will be next week on April 14th and 16th. Several members of the PUDM community will be there to give a short presentation and answer any and all questions you may have about what it is we do at PUDM, what it's like to be a dancer, how to fundraise and get you pumped up and excited to make a difference FTK. After you've been thoroughly convinced and inspired, you can go to www.pudm.org to register. If you're as lucky as I am, this small step may be the first of many toward an infinitely fulfilling college experience spent in the service of those who need it most.