The seventh annual ISU Dance Marathon will feature music, activities and poignant stories of families facing tremendous health challenges. Previous ISU Dance Marathons raised a total of more than half a million dollars.

Organizers report they have registered more than 530 student dancers for this year's Dance Marathon. Each dancer must raise $175 in pledges in order to participate. Approximately 200 family members whose children have received care at University of Iowa Children's Hospital are also scheduled to attend the event.

The dancers will move to the beat of tunes from the ISU Dance Marathon DJ, the Hip Hop Dance Club, Ballroom Dance Club and Dazy Head Mazy Band. Organizers point out that although their motto for this year's ISU Dance Marathon is "Give a day. Change a life," ISU students have also held other fundraising events throughout the year, including a family day at the local Chuck E. Cheese restaurant and a mini-dance marathon at South East Polk High School.

Proceeds of the ISU Dance Marathon will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network. Children's Miracle Network is the nation's largest charitable organization. Funds raised in an area stay in that same area to benefit the local children's hospital. Donations enhance the quality of patients' hospital stays, support research and help purchase the sophisticated pediatric health care equipment necessary to care for critically ill and injured children.

Donations to Iowa State Dance Marathon support weekly continental breakfasts for pediatric families, a massage program for patients and parents, specialized equipment for robotic surgery, support for families through social service programs, and various enhancements to hospital stays for kids. A renovation project is underway at University of Iowa Children's Hospital and is partially funded by donations to ISU Dance Marathon.

Children's Miracle Network funds support University of Iowa Children's Hospital at UI Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. University of Iowa Children's Hospital is the state's longest-serving children's hospital. More than 130,000 children receive care at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital and its statewide network of outreach clinics each year.

If you would like more information about how you can help the Children's Miracle Network cause, contact Lisa Baum, Michelle Altmaier, or Lacy Carroll at 319-335-8484.

For more information:

Children's Miracle Network

University of Iowa Children's Hospital

ISU Dance Marathon