UI Dance Marathon Kick-Off
The 12th annual University of Iowa Dance Marathon will kick off Friday, February 3 at 7 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union and continue for 24 dancing, fun-filled, memorable hours.
Dance Marathon at The University of Iowa began 11 years ago and has raised more than $4 million for pediatric oncology programs at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. The mission of UI Dance Marathon is to provide financial and emotional support through special projects to families served by University of Iowa Children's Hospital, with an emphasis on pediatric oncology.
This year, four Clear Channel radio stations will sponsor a radiothon beginning February 2 at UI Hospitals and Clinics to kick off Dance Marathon activities.
The UI Dance Marathon is the largest Children's Miracle Network dance marathon west of the Mississippi River. The 2005 UI Dance Marathon sponsored more than 220 families and 43 Friends and raised in excess of $576,000.
The UI Dance Marathon is a student organization that provides year-round support to youth cancer victims and their families. Dance Marathon gives students the opportunity to celebrate the children survivors and remember the children who have passed away throughout the year. Students plan and participate in Family Events, Mini-Dance Marathons, Miracle Games, car washes, silent auctions, and dinners. The goal of these activities is to raise additional money for children with cancer and to educate the community about the struggles and triumphs of these children.
All Dance Marathon dancers must raise $400 to participate. Dancers remain standing for the full 24 hours. Live entertainment includes a DJ and performances by local bands, University Bands, University Dance and Theatre Groups, Dance Marathon Family Speakers, and more exciting acts.
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Children's Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization dedicated to generating funds and awareness programs to benefit children treated at 170 children's hospitals throughout the United States and Canada. The network also includes 75 corporate sponsors, 200 television stations and more than 135 radio stations.
University of Iowa Children's Hospital is the state's longest-serving children's hospital. More than 140,000 children receive care at University of Iowa Children's Hospital and its statewide network of outreach clinics each year.
For more information about how you can help the Children's Miracle Network cause, contact Lisa Baum or Michelle Altmaier at 319-335-8484.
Call for Kids with Cancer Radiothon Starts Thursday
Four Clear Channel radio stations--MIX 96.5, KKRQ 100.7 Fox radio, WMT-AM 600, and
KXIC AM 800--will team up to broadcast a special radiothon from the Atrium Lobby of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics February 2 and 3 that will lead into the 2006 UI Dance Marathon.
The Call for Kids with Cancer Radiothon will benefit pediatric oncology programs at University of Iowa Children's Hospital at UI Hospitals and Clinics. Listeners can call 800-456-2772 during the broadcast to make a pledge.
The final segment of the radiothon will air from the Iowa Memorial Union and will kick off UI Dance Marathon 2006.
"We are deeply grateful to Clear Channel and its affiliated stations for their devotion to helping children and families affected by cancer," said Raymond Tannous, M.D., interim director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at University of Iowa Children's Hospital. "Their efforts will benefit our patients in ways that they don't even realize."
ISU Dance Marathon Benefits Patients at University of Iowa Children's Hospital
More than 530 dancers rocked the day away for 15 hours Saturday, Jan.
21, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union at Iowa State University in Ames, raising $ll3,000 for University of Iowa Children's Hospital at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City through Children's Miracle Network.
ISU Dance Marathon Director Cory Hanson called the total thrilling. "We worked hard to recruit and bring in dancers. Some people really don't get a feel for Dance Marathon until they meet the real reasons we've gathered...the precious kids from the hospital."
One of those patients, 16-year-old Kaleb Stebens of Davenport, has enjoyed all nine years of ISU's Dance Marathon. His rendition of "This Little Light of Mine" has long been an integral part of the final "power hour."
"His voice over the years has deepened and grown, but the result is the same. Everyone is moved by his story of being hit by a drunk-driving teenager who was afraid to stop. Kaleb was drug more than l00 feet. His initial brain injury was monumental but here he is, growing taller, still happy to be celebrated by Iowa State students," said Stephanie Stebens, Kaleb's mother.
Each hour a family took the stage to share their story of care at University of Iowa Children's Hospital.
"The interaction between the students and families is what keeps us all coming back," said Annon Woodin of Ames. "It's a safe environment for kids, and they are truly entertained and kept at the center of things for the whole l5 hours."
ISU President Gregory Geoffrey thanked the students for their special outreach to the families of Iowa.
"Iowa State Dance Marathon is the campus's largest philanthropy. More than l00 people volunteer year round to bring the event to its culmination in January," said Lisa Baum, director of Children's Miracle Network.
Each dancer must raise $175 in pledges in order to participate. Approximately 350 family members whose children have received care at University of Iowa Children's Hospital attended the event.
Proceeds of the ISU Dance Marathon will be donated to 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.
If you would like more information about how you can help the Children's Miracle Network cause, contact Lisa Baum, Michelle Altmaier or Morgan Rohrbach at 319-335-8484.
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