University of Iowa Dance Marathon is one of the largest student-run fund-raisers in the U.S. This massive event benefits patients and families at University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Throughout the year, students raise money for Dance Marathon then pack the Iowa Memorial Union for 24-hours to celebrate their achievements.

" Every effort you have put in throughout the entire year has culminated at the 24-hour event and will continue to effect people for the next 364 days," says Beth Foster, Dance Marathon executive director.

" We try to help their lives. We try to change their lives and try to change it for the better. But by the same token, they are changing our lives and teaching us about courage and teaching us about growth and living through difficult times in your life," says Mike Brooks, Dance Marathon Family Relations.

Dance Marathon funds pay for comfort items for pediatric cancer patients and their families. These can include toys, meal and hotel vouchers, phone cards and other items to help families better cope with a child's hospital stay. It also funds ground-breaking research into childhood cancer:

" This is the only place in the state of Iowa where children can receive this kind of treatment. I think we owe it to our patients to be able to provide them with this kind of care," says Sue O'Dorisio, M.D., UI pediatric oncologist.

" I can think of no better cause. I mean it. You don't think about it much until it hits home, and we have a child that has cancer. There's no better cause to raise money for," says John Hill, parent of a cancer patient.

Since 1994, Dance Marathon has raised more than $2.2million. That includes a new, state-of-the-art pediatric bone marrow transplant unit at University of Iowa Children's Hospital.

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Children's Hospital of Iowa

University of Iowa Dance Marathon

Sue O'Dorisio, M.D.