Over the past 6 months, I've been asked one particular questions what seems like over and over again.

"Why do you DM?"

When I was at the first call-out meeting for committees in the Fall of 2016, this question was asked to the audience after each committee and talked about who they were and what role they played in preparing for Dance Marathon. By the end of the meeting, I had no idea why I DM because I had no idea what I was about to get myself into. So thus, I decided to interview with Riley Relations because they got to be involved with the Riley kids from what I could remember. I was going to interview with Finance but I couldn't make it to any of the interview times.

I went to the Riley Relations interview and I remember feeling like it wasn't the right fit, as another girl who also interviewed with me clearly knew why she DM'd and had all these connections and experiences. I was still unsure of what I was getting involved with and what committee I should be on.

Feeling somewhat discouraged, I got an email from the Finance director, Sara Binkley, saying how she noticed I marked down to interview with Finance but never picked a time. So long story short, we figured out a time and we interviewed. I instantly bonded with her and could see myself fitting in with the Finance committee. Thus, my Dance Marathon journey began.

100 Days was our first big day. We were challenged as individuals to raise $100 in just one day. And as this was my first Dance Marathon, I thought that would be dang near impossible, or at least very hard to obtain. However, by 10pm that night, I had raised over $100 that day. I remember sitting in the office counting money all day, enjoying getting to know all of the other committee execs and learning more about Dance Marathon. (Like how Ball State Dance Marathon alone funds the Palliative Care Unit and the 'magic castle' cart that goes to each room and gives the kids a choice of a stuffed animal, coloring books, games, etc). It was revealed at midnight that night was just the start of it all.

In just one day, our organization as a whole raised $46,181. I was completely blown away by this but still had no idea what I was getting myself into.

So I continued to post my fundraising link and reaching to raise the minimum $350 to be able to go to Dance Marathon and participate. Somewhere along the way, I found myself having to raise my goal higher and higher as I kept hitting my goals. As I attended weekly meetings counting the money, listening to Riley kid stories, and even visiting the hospital, I got a better understanding of what the impact that this organization has on not only the hospital itself, but the impact it has on the kids and their families.

Suddenly it was Riley week; the week of Dance Marathon. I hadn't been paying too much attention to just how much money I had raised, but I noticed I had raised somewhere around $650 going into the week. Day of Hope is every Monday before the Marathon and the organization sets a goal for how much they want to raise during that day. This years goal was $75,000. I decided that I wanted to go all out and raise $150 For The Kids that day.

Day of Hope was extremely special to me. It was another all day event full of counting money, entering numbers into spread sheets and figuring out totals. I vividly remember at 6pm, only 6 hours till midnight and reveal for how much we made that night, we had barely hit the halfway mark to our goal. And with being on the Finance committee, it was a very stressful time and many of us doubted that we would hit our goal. I personally thought that there was no way that we were going to make it. I emailed and texted all of my friends and family and even friends of friends asking for just small, $5 donations. I wanted to make a difference myself and keep my promise to raise $150 that day For The Kids. And I did. So at midnight, we were ready to reveal our total for the day. And that is a moment I will never forget. $75,288.05 FTK.

A miracle in Muncie is what I called it.

And from that moment on, I knew that this is what I was called to do and be a part of here at Ball State. To be part of something bigger than me, bigger than my friends, bigger than just the money. It's about the kids. It's about their unfailing and inspirational hope and love for life no matter what circumstances they are going through. I wish everyone could experience what I have experienced over the past week. God has truly blessed me with this experience.

It wasn't at the Marathon or during 100 Days when I knew I could answer the question: "Why do you DM?". It was on Day of Hope when I knew I could finally answer the question.

I DM For The Kids.

I DM for hope.

I DM for a cure.

I DM so that they can have a tomorrow.

I DM because they inspire me to have hope and to love life like they do. Even on the tough days.