The organizers of Dance Marathon are currently holding their Blitz Week registration.
Students can sign up for the 24-hour celebration, party and fundraiser for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital at booths in Presidential Courtyard and the University Center Plaza today through Friday.
Dance Marathon 2001, a weekend of dancing, entertainment, games, lip sync, concerts, food, DJs, basketball and interaction with children from the hospital will last 24 hours, starting at 8:01 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Stokely Athletic Center.
Last year, over 300 participants in Dance Marathon raised $64,000 for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, said Laura Lefler, president of Dance Marathon 2001.
That money gives children hope, a chance to dream and most importantly live. This is a chance for us to come together as a campus for a common cause there could be nothing better to provide unity.
Students will be able to participate as individuals or with a team. Campus organizations, residence halls and religious groups are also invited to form a team of two or more members and participate in the spirit of competition.
Individuals who raise the most money will get awards, and the winning organization will receive the 2001 Miracle Cup.
We are all very passionate about our individual areas of campus life, but it is rare to find one cause that all students can get behind, Lefler said. Regardless of our age, sex, race, religion, major, hobbies or Greek affiliation, we all care about children.
To participate in Dance Marathon, students must fill out the registration form that will be available at the booths this week and at the TeamVOLS office, Forms must be returned with a $20 registration fee to room 315A in the University Center.
This year’s minimum entry fee is $150 per person. The money can be raised in a variety of ways, including asking for small donations outside an athletic event or retail store to patron walking by.
Students can also fill out a list of people they believe would donate to Dance Marathon, which comes in the registration packet. Organizers will then send prospective members letters and collect donations.
Dance Marathon is a test on the resources that are most precious to college students: time and money, Lefler said. We must give in order to truly empathize with the children and the families we are helping.
The mission of Dance Marathon is to unite University of Tennessee students in an endeavor to raise funds for the more than 400 children treated in the hospital’s hematology and oncology clinics. All proceeds go directly to impact the lives of these children.
Is anything more important than helping a child to live, grow and dream? Lefler said. Today, hundreds of families will be informed their child has been diagnosed with cancer. We should only feel badly about things we can do nothing to change. But we, as UT students, can make a difference for children in East Tennessee.
