Why I DM
If you follow me on any form of social media or have talked to me at all in the last few years, you probably know I am involved with a student organization called Dance Marathon, affectionately known as DM. You may not know exactly what that means. Regardless of what you've heard about it before, I'd like to explain it a little more and especially show why I participate in it.
Dance Marathon is a nationwide movement of students raising money for their local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. It's been going on since 1991 when a group of friends had lost their dear friend, Ryan White, to AIDS at age 18. Indiana University started a fundraiser dance party that almost burnt their gym down, but the theoretical fire of this movement only spread wider from there, and since then, the programs across the US have raised over $150 million for CMN Hospitals.
USC is proudly part of that and grows each year. DM now includes over 300 university programs, as well as local high schools that hold mini marathons.
We raise money all year as we spread awareness about our hospital and share stories of the children treated there. At the end of our fundraising year, we throw what we'd like to think is the best party of the year! And some of our kids get to join us!
At our Main Event at USC, we stand for 14 hours straight, learning a mash-up line dance to keep us going, having games and competitions with all the other students there, and meeting the families we are directly supporting. At midnight, we reveal our total dollar amount, 100% of which is donated directly to Palmetto Health Children's Hospital. We scream a bit and cry of happiness, thank everybody who has supported us, and celebrate all we have accomplished FTK.
This all sounds pretty cool, right? But, there's always more to it than that.
Our organization is made up of student "heroes," morale captains, and staff who plan and promote the event all year. From speaking with them and reflecting on my own experiences, I wrote out this list of reasons why I "DM."
To find a reason why should do DM, too, join us & see it for your yourself.
I DM because...
- because it's one of the best things I could ever do with my time in college
- because it makes me part of a limitless, miracle-making family
- because everybody has a miracle child in their life, whether they realize it or not
- because it allows us to create opportunity where it never seemed like there was one
- because we all need a reason to dance
- because premature babies deserve a fighting chance
- because I was that baby and so were my brother and sister
- because we can make a hospitals a fun and un-scary place for the kids
- because cancer sucks
- because child life specialists are really cool
- because doctors and nurses are life-saving, wonderful people
- because a sick child’s health affects every person in their life
- because we can bring hope and happiness to families who need it
- because we can be the reason a child meets their best friend
- because hope is infinite
- because seeing a child laugh and smile is the greatest thing in the world
- because changing kids' lives is the best reason I can think of to bring over 1,000 different people together, One Team with One Dream
- because it’s a great way to be part of something bigger than yourself
- because [good and bad] dancing saves lives
- because I want to carry on Ryan White's legacy
- because it's the best
way to be inspired every day
- because “one day we will dance in celebration, but until then we will dance for a cure”
- because every time I see anybody who has participate in DM in anyway, I smile and know we have made a difference
- because DM is an indescribable experience that you just have to see for yourself
- because one child can change the world, if they only have they have the chance
-Jo Jo
For Love, For Hope...
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