The Fourth Annual Walsh University Dance Marathon (WUDM) brought dancing for a good cause to the Cecchini Center on Saturday, March 25. With almost 100 registered participants, the daylong event raised $20,344 for Akron Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, surpassing this year’s fundraising goal by $5,000 and last year’s total by $7,000.
Dancers wore brightly colored clothes that coordinated with their designated color team and competed in games such as minute-to-win-it and relay races to win a prize. To keep spirits up, students on WUDM’s board created a morale dance that was taught to all participants in sections each hour. This dance was performed in its entirety at the end of the event when the total amount of money raised was revealed.
The event included several guests who came to visit the dancers throughout the day. Participants and leaders of the Lenten Mission, "Called to Adore," as well as families and children who have been treated at Akron Children’s Hospital came to encourage students and remind them for why they were dancing.
"Dance marathon has been so important to me because it has given me a way to continue to give back to the amazing children's hospitals that treat our Miracle Children every day," said Katie Hamrock, senior Biology Pre-Optometry Major and President of WUDM. "Being able to interact with our Miracle Children at the event is so rewarding. They have all gone through so much, but have so much joy and energy!"