IUDM meets goal, surpasses last year’s total by $300K

After 36 hours of no sleep, IU Dance Marathon participants didn’t seem like they had the energy to burst into applause and cheers. That all changed at the announcement of the fundraiser’s total.

IUDM raised $1,376,550.23, beating last year’s total by more than $300,000. The money goes to the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital for Children.

Junior and member of the IUDM accounting committee Greg Strabavy said exceeding last year’s amount was the main goal.

    VIDEO: IU Dance Marathon

“It’s a great feeling that everybody’s efforts paid off,” Strabavy said. “It’s the biggest total.”

The announcement came at about 8 a.m. Sunday as Queen’s “We Are the Champions” played throughout the Ora L. Wildermuth Intramural Center. Dancers and committee members had been there since 8 p.m. Friday.

Despite the name, IUDM participants did not have to dance the entire time. There was a moon bounce, tables for eating and the “Inspiration Tent,” which featured a history time line display about IUDM. There were also computers, basketball hoops and other space for games.

    SLIDESHOW: IUDM

Freshman Anthony Russell said he played games, such as corn hole, with kids from Riley. Russell said he understood what the kids have been through.

“I have a sister who’s been through Riley, so I can kind of relate to it,” Russell said.
But for those who wanted to dance, a stage in the back corner of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation building’s gym featured live music and line dance leaders who taught different combinations.

The one thing participants could not do was sit. Sophomore and IUDM committee member Betsy Head said last year dancers could only sit down when they were eating a meal, but that rule was changed this year. As part of security for the event, Head had to look for dancers sneaking in a nap.

“I’ve been doing security and making sure people aren’t sleeping and trying to keep people motivated and excited about the marathon,” Head said.

She also said the stories from the families who have experienced Riley helped keep people interested.
“The Riley stories really help because when they can see the kids standing up on stage and see who they’re helping, they get really excited about it,” Head said.

Families told their stories about their experiences at Riley Hospital and how it kept their children alive. One mother, Paula Simonson, thanked the volunteers for giving their time and money to helping children like her son, Sam.

She also said seeing other families with Riley stories reminded her she is not the only one to deal with the stress of having a child in and out of the hospital.

“You sort of feel like you’re alone a lot of the time, but today you don’t feel alone,” Simonson said.

Even though the stories were inspirational, Russell said staying awake and on his feet for 36 hours was challenging.

“Morale is good. It’s just tiring,” Russell said Saturday. “Everyone wants to do it for the good cause, it’s just getting the actual physical energy to do it.”

Head said people got discouraged when they were told to keep standing, but she was a dancer last year and the fatigue was worth it in the end.

“It’s really tough physically and mentally to be able to do that, but it’s really rewarding at the end,” Head said.