Dance Marathon at the University of Florida is a year-long fundraising event that culminates in a 26.2 hour event where over 800 students stand for those who cannot- the children treated by UF Health Shands Children's Hospital. DM at UF is the largest student-run philanthropy event in the Southeast, raising over $1.5 million last year, which was donated to UF Health Shands Children's Hospital in Gainesville, FL being used for research as well as equipment to treat the patients and make their hospital stay more enjoyable. 

While everything I just said accurately describes what Dance Marathon is, to end it at that would be doing the philanthropy a disservice. Dance Marathon is so much more than an year-long fundraising event. It's so much more than standing for 26.2 hours. When we look just at the facts and statistics of DM, it's easy to stop there and not look deeper into what is being done. Last year, $1.5 million was raised. If that number does not blow you away, then you need to reevaluate your value of a dollar. In a year, UF students were able to raise $1.5 million to help change the lives of children and families within our own community. To give you a better idea of just how much money that is, you could buy 8,522.7 Xboxes with $1.5 million or 7,500 iPhone 6's or around four Ferraris. In summary, you can do a lot with $1.5 million and because of the efforts of UF students, doctors are now using a sum of that money to search for cures for the diseases and illnesses these kids suffer from. 

What's even more incredible than the number 1.5 million are the kids Dance Marathon serve. There are over 50 miracle families that serve as an inspiration for the handwork that UF students put into DM. Despite the illnesses and hospital stays, these kids remain a light to our community and push Dance Marathon to be better and bigger each and every year. FTK (For The Kids) is often thrown around in a casual manner, but it is the center of Dance Marathon. It is the driving force for the annoying Facebook statuses, emails to family and distant relatives as well as text messages to people we haven't talked to in years. They are the reason we chop off our hair or get tattoos or dress up crazy in public in exchange for donations. They are the inspiration. They are the heroes. 

All of this wouldn't be possible without the time and dedication of the 6,000 students involved. Whether you're an overall director, captain, delegate, staffer, dancer or a fundraiser/friend, Dance Marathon isn't possible without you. This past year I have fallen in love with this organization because of the people who are involved with it. Their hearts are passionate ones that strive to change lives and put smiles on other's faces. Being surrounded by a community of people who come from all walks of life and all have their reasons for being a part of Dance Marathon, is inspirational and pushes me to be better and to be bigger. It's easy to say that Dance Marathon is a year-long fundraising event that culminates in a 26.2 hour event where students stand for those who can't, but you are selling the philanthropy extremely short when you leave it at that. Dance Marathon is passion for changing lives. It's working to give hope to children and their families. It's working to give our siblings, our kids, our grandkids and great-grandkids a cure to the incurable. And we will keep on working until there is a day where we no longer need a Dance Marathon.