Student dance marathon raises money for Children’s Miracle Network
The University of West Florida (UWF) will host its second annual Dance Marathon March 2 to raise money for the Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Proceeds from the event will go toward supporting the families of children staying in the hospital. Students raised more than $1,300 so far and hope to meet their goal of $2,000 by the end of the night.
“One of the children we spoke to at Sacred Heart has been living at the hospital for four years,” said Keldrick Averhart, event director and a junior studying clinical laboratory science. “The money we raise will help those families with their expenses, as well as go toward supplies for the children.”
Familiar songs such as “The Cha Cha Slide” and “The Electric Slide” will be among the playlist at the event, as well as anything else that gets the crowd moving. Children from the hospital will be present at the event to speak to the participants and partake in the fun.
“Our job is to make sure that everyone is entertained while they’re at the event,” said Averhart.
He said there will be food and beverages, as well as face painters for children. Competitions among the teams throughout the night will keep the party going.
Registration is $15 for each person, which includes the event T-shirt and a bracelet that reads, “I’m dancing for the kids.” Attendees that do not register to dance can still purchase a bracelet with a donation of $2.
“I love kids and I want to help people and give back to the community,” said Averhart. “People often look at college students as being selfish, so I want to show the community that students at UWF are helping with something bigger than themselves.”
The event is open to faculty, staff and students. With more than 10 teams signed up so far, Averhart expects 50 to 70 people to attend. The marathon will take place in the Conference Center on the Pensacola Main Campus (Building 22) from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
For more information, to donate or to register for the Dance Marathon, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?
