Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc. and the Office of Student Activities will host NSU’s annual Dance Marathon in support of pediatric cancer patients, starting April 4 at 7 p.m. in the indoor basketball courts of the Recreational Complex in the Don Taft University Center
A nation-wide event, Dance Marathon aims to raise money and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network, a children’s hospital group.
Though the Dance Marathon is traditionally a 24- to 48-hour event, NSU’s version of the marathon will last 12 hours. The groups’ goal is to raise $5,000 for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital patients.
Sean Ryan, graduate assistant for the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement and adviser for the Dance Marathon committee, said the money raised will make a great impact on the patients and their families.
“The money is going toward the patients’ treatments,” Ryan said. “If there’s a treatment that they need that their insurance doesn’t cover, this money will be able to help them with the cost. The motto is always FTK, which means ‘For the Kids.’”
The event will also feature raffle prizes, free food, video and board games and presentations by hospital representatives. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with some of the patient’s families.
Kaitlyn Bamrick, senior biology major and co-president of the Dance Marathon committee, said she finds the event personally significant.
“My cousin had cancer when he was younger and he did beat it,” said Bamrick. “Being a part of the Dance Marathon is something that hit home for me and I find it really important.”
Rachel Comito, Kappa Psi director of philanthropy and co-president of the Dance Marathon committee, said that in past years, the Dance Marathon was held by the Health Professions Division. This is the first time the event has been produced with a focus toward undergraduates.
“We don’t want the event to belong to one club or one organization; we want it to belong to the whole school,” Comito said. “Bringing it to NSU’s undergraduates was just the right thing for us to do. We want to make this a tradition that NSU can have every year.”
Ryan believes that this event is a great opportunity for students to connect with one another under a positive objective.
“Dance Marathon really builds a sense of community behind a great cause, working with children who have cancer and terminal illnesses.
This event brings people of different backgrounds together. Everyone is working towards one unified goal,” said Ryan.
Dance Marathon is open to the NSU community and the public. Attendees can register for $10 at support.pedaids.org/novadm, either as individuals or as teams. Registration will be open through April 4. Walk-in registration will be available the day of the event. All registration money will go toward the marathon’s donation goal.
For more information about Dance Marathon, contact Ryan at sr1616@nova.edu.
