March 03, 2017
Event will benefit Children’s Miracle Network hospitals
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois University Carbondale community is coming together for a day of dance, musical entertainment and fun on March 25 and it’s really all about helping kids.
The SIU Dance Marathon, set for 1-8 p.m. in Davies Gym, is a benefit for the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals from the greater St. Louis area. Check-in is from noon to 12:45 p.m. on March 25.
A Chicago disc jockey and his crew will provide music and the event will also feature Zumba and salsa instructors, the Saluki Shakers and cheerleaders, games, inflatables and food. The SIU Miracle Network Dance Marathon, the registered student organization sponsoring the event, will perform as well.
“We are a non-profit organization and every penny we raise goes directly to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital,” Demeri Adams, a child development and family services major from Girard and director of the SIU Dance Marathon, said. “We will also be having several children and their families coming to our event to engage with us and tell us their stories of how the Children’s Miracle Network has impacted and even saved their lives. I think meeting the children and their families will give us a new perspective as to why we are doing this and help people realize the real stories and emotions involved and why raising the funds is worth it.”
The SIU Dance Marathon is open to students, faculty and staff and community members. In order to attend, participants must register online by March 19. There is a $10 registration fee and participants set a goal of raising a minimum of $100 in donations. Individuals and teams are welcome; you can also join existing teams. All participants will receive a T-shirt.
The RSO’s goal is to provide emotional and financial support for the greater St. Louis area’s Children’s Miracle Network hospitals and organizers hope the marathon becomes an annual event. The student group hopes the SIU Dance Marathon will raise at least $15,000.
More information is available at SIUDanceMarathon on Facebook, SIU_DM on Twitter, siudancemarathon on Instagram or by emailing Adams at adams.demeri@siu.edu. Register online at http://events.dancemarathon.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.event&eventID=1250.