Dance Marathon At Loyola To Help Lurie Children's Hospital

CHICAGO - Students at Loyola University in Chicago are in the midst of planning another dance marathon to benefit the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. Fundraising for the event now in its fifth year began back in August, student organizer Madeline Landa said.

"This year has been wildly successful compared to years past," said Landa, a senior math major whose been involved in the planning of the event since she was a sophomore.

"I got involved because I'm passionate about the idea that people should have access to free healthcare, and that children deserve the best care there is," she added. "Lurie has a few 'miracle kids.'And once you meet your first miracle kid, there is no turning back."

Dance marathons, which have roots in the early 20th century, have gained popularity across the nation in recent years as ways to raise funds for various charities. They are often 24-hour events in which at least one person is out on a dance floor dancing or walking to music at all times.

In many cases, like the yearly event at Loyola, children's hospitals benefit from the money raised. Landa says the Loyola dance marathon is usually limited to an eight-hour time span, however.

"The dancing part is actually pretty minimal," she said. "It's really more about having fun. We'll have food, a bounce house, impersonation characters for the kids and more."

Loyola has their dance marathon set to begin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 16 at the Rogers Park neighborhood school's Damen Student Center. It's open to the public. Register and donate to the cause here.

Last year's event raised more than $57,000 got Lurie, and Landa says the fundraising goal for this year is $60,000.

"Over the last two years, we've been able to help bring in 100 new hospital beds thanks to the fundraising," she said.

"It is a super hip time every year... a great way to celebrate the end of the fundraising year."

Photo courtesy of Justes Kemper, Loyola University student