Dancing for the Kids

I work in fundraising and special events for a big hospital in Idaho. One of my favorite parts of my job is that I get to work with people in the community who want to raise money for the hospital. Everyone has a different story - they're survivors, their child was a patient, they want to give back to make sure that we can continue to provide the best care in case they ever need it. No matter what the reason, it's amazing when people sacrifice their time and resources to support the hospital and the patients in need.

From Friday afternoon to Saturday morning, students at Boise State University danced for 17 hours to show their dedication to the kids receiving care at the children's hospital. They stayed on their feet through the exhaustion, pledging their support and fundraising for a truly worthy cause. The event is called Dance Marathon, and it is currently held at over 150 high schools and universities nationwide. It was founded in 1991 and since then, events have collectively raised millions through 12 to 36 hour marathons. The students at Boise State planned for a year to pull it off, putting in hours of work to make this event exceptional for everyone involved.

Going into it, I wasn't sure how I would fare. I never even pulled an all nighter when I was in college! But it was amazing and one of the best experiences I've ever had. Families and hospital staff attended throughout the first half of the night, and they gave such hope and strength to the dancers. It was awesome to see these college students spending time with the kids, teaching them dance moves, taking their pictures, and making them feel completely normal and appreciated. The students pushed themselves and persevered, proving that they could keep going for 17 hours and forming bonds and a Dance Marathon family that they will have for years to come. It was the first event of its kind in Idaho and at Boise State, but it definitely won't be the last. Congratulations to the dancers - we're so proud of you!

The dancers who made it through the night!

Did your high school or college have a Dance Marathon? What's the craziest reason you ever pulled an all nighter?