Dance Marathon dancers stand strong, raise more than $610,000

Update:

Just before 2 a.m. on Feb. 21, dancers celebrated with bursts of cheers and tears when the final amount raised for Dance Marathon was announced.

The event raised $610,086.23 for Riley Hospital, $60,000 more than the goal of $550,000. Last year, just over $500,000 was raised.

See photos from Dance Marathon here.

Brooke Lentz, a junior education major, is on the Dance Marathon committee. She said seeing the high results was amazing, especially because members have been working so hard to achieve their goal all year.

“I literally cannot believe what just happened,” Lentz said.

Minutes after the numbers were announced, she was still jumping and hugging her friends in disbelief.

Lizzet Lares, a freshman nursing major, said the night was unlike any she could have ever imagined.

“I’m so proud and excited about the final result,” Lares said. “This is such an incredible experience. I’m so exited."

Freshman nursing major Lauren Mohr said standing for 12 hours was the hardest part, but that it was worth it.

“My legs are done, but my heart is so overjoyed,” Mohr said."It reminded me why I want to be a nurse and help more kids like the ones I met today."

Max Johnson, Dance Marathon vice president of external affairs, said there were close to 1,300 dancers, but an official number has yet to be released.

Johnson said while he had an idea about what the final number would be, he was still surprised by the end result.

“I teared up at the end of it all,” Johnson said. “There were ups and downs during the night and it was really hot, but I think this was overall a great dance marathon.”

He said the next dance marathon is just 365 days away, and the mission of organization continues year-round.

“It doesn’t end tonight,” Johnson said. “But for the last 12 hours, this was a fantastic turnout.”

Tyler Barton, a sophomore finance major, said the best part for him was knowing that all the money raised is going to deserving children and families.

“This has been a beautiful experience,” Barton said. “Breaking the goal by this much is unbelievable, and knowing that all of this money goes to a really great and important cause makes it even more special.”

Earlier:

The echoing of Ball State's Riley Dance Marathon gong is still resonating in the Field Sports Building. 

Each time dancers reach a $100 fundraising mark, they're handed a mallet and offered a swing at the gong on the stage, signifying each step the organization takes toward its $550,000 goal.

After announcing her goal earlier in the evening, Muncie's own 10-year-old Riley kid Danica Louks reached her goal of $1,000. Louks was brought onto the stage, and as a result of her fundraising accomplishments, shaved her head in front of a mass of cheering dancers.

"This is amazing," Louks said onstage. "Thank you all so much."

Eight hours into the marathon, line dancing, face painting and family testimonies also continue. While some of the dancers said they're beginning to get tired, freshmen nursing majors Lauren Mohr and Lizzet Lares said they're still keeping a high morale. 

"I've just been out on the dance floor learning the dances and listening to the music," Lares said. "I'm starting to get tired, but I'm still going strong. It still feels amazing."

Mohr, who's spent the entire day with Riley kids and their families, agreed.

"I'm having so much fun," Mohr said. "I'm really tired, but I'm really happy right now. I love this."

As the night progressed, Kid Quill, a musician and college student at DePauw University, performed for the crowd. Local Muncie Indie group The Indigos followed. 

More awards and fundraising incentives are anticipated to be released throughout the night.

Earlier:

Riley Dance Marathon is getting hotter by the minute, and dancers have no shortage of enthusiasm or energy after five hours on their feet.

Tacos were supplied to refuel dancers, and activity stations like face painting and board game areas were opened for Riley kids and Ball State students to spend time together.

After 3 p.m., dancers also began giving donations more personal than money — their hair. A booth in the back of the Field Sports Building is open to anyone willing to donate ponytails or shave their heads, and some participants are going onstage to use their hair donations as fundraising incentives.

Kelli Lawrence, a Riley mom and Ball State alumna, said she couldn't be more happy or excited about the dance marathon and the opportunities her son Graham has had so far.

"Graham had a heart defect when he was born, and Riley Hospital was the miracle he needed to stay alive," Lawrence said. "This is our first dance marathon, and the atmosphere is amazing. It's so great to be back at Ball State surrounded by so many caring and enthusiastic people. We're so grateful for everything Riley has done for our family, and we're so happy that there are so many people who have a passion to help as well."

Freshmen nursing majors Lauren Mohr and Lizzet Lares said they're also loving the "DM feeling" after the first few hours. Mohr helped do activities and face masks with kids while Larres said she's been helping with line dancing and the talent show that's put on by the Riley kids.

"I'm still feeling super excited," Mohr said. "I'm a little tired and my feet are a little sore, but I'm still going strong."

Larres said her excitement level was still unscathed, as well.

"I'm still really excited about it all," Lares said. "I'm really looking forward to seeing and performing the line dance and hearing the rest of the family stories."

On the executive side of the dance marathon, Dance Marathon vice president of external affairs Max Johnson said he's been trying to come up with a solid communication effort for fundraising.

"We made this promise of $550,000 for Riley and we are trying our hardest to make sure that happens," Johnson said. "I'm still very excited to see all the participation in our in event fundraising."

He added that the hot temperatures in the Field Sports Building have been odd since previous Dance Marathons have had to be cautious of snow. Johnson also said that while he's tired, there's still a lot to look forward to.

In the meantime, Danica Louks, a Riley kid from Muncie and a regular at Dance Marathon events, is attempting to raise $1,000 to shave her head.

Earlier:

Cheering. Dancing. Laughing. Crying. 

It's all to be expected in the Field Sports Building as happiness ensues during Ball State's 2016 Riley Dance Marathon event. 

Dancers began their 12-hour stretch at 2 p.m. on Feb. 20 to raise money for Riley Children's Hospital, and activities are now underway to reach the organization's fundraising goal of $550,000. An estimated 800 dancers were at the event at 4 p.m.

At the start of the event, Dance Marathon President Max Browning welcomed a sea of students in rainbow-colored garb. 

"In April, we promised that we would raise $550,00 for Riley Hospital," Browning said. "I want to congratulate each person that's here to help reach that goal, and I'm so grateful for everyone's hard work they've been putting in. It really makes a difference, all of it."

Student Government Association President Jack Hesser also made an on-stage appearance to address and encourage fellow members of the student body.

"I want people to look and think about all the different types of people around them and recognize how incredibly committed Ball State students are, especially to this cause," Hesser said. "We're all able to come be here together, all for different reasons, and that's what makes this day so great."

Following formal presentations, families and kids from Riley Hospital were introduced to the crowd as they walked through a cheering path of dancers on their way up to the stage.

Afterwards, members of the Morale Committee teamed up on stage to showcase the 2016 line dance, which included a combination of musical pieces from Lady Gaga and Drake to '70s classics and '90s hip-hop.

At the end of the performance, junior Austin Moore knelt down and proposed to his girlfriend, morale committee co-director Lauren Eades.

"I had this planned for a year," Moore said. "It's amazing. This is a cause that we both care about, and this is a moment I'll never forget."

Eades, who was laughing and crying as she exited the stage, could barely speak.

"I said yes — of course," Eades said. "I'm just so happy right now. This is such an incredible day."

Joining Dance Marathon for the first time as a duo, freshmen nursing majors Lauren Mohr and Lizzet Larres said they were both excited to meet Riley families and help make the kids at the event feel welcomed and loved.

"Today, I'm getting to spend a lot of time with families that we're raising money for," Mohr said. "It means a lot to me because it helps the cause of the organization really hit home, and it makes me so much more passionate about what Riley Hospital offer kids and their families."

Larres, who joined several Riley kids on stage, said the mix of excitement and love have made her first Dance Marathon experience amazing so far.

"When the marathon started up, everyone was up and cheering and there was so much excitement everywhere," Larres said. "This is something I have always wanted to do, and I really just can't wait to see what all of our hard work leads to in the end."

Tasked with helping raise funds throughout the night, junior education major Brooke Lentz said that after just a few hours into the event, the atmosphere was incredible.

"I'm all over the place doing a lot of different things throughout the day and night," Lentz said. "I think we'll reach our goal, and I can't wait to be able to experience that moment."

Lentz said she's dancing for her cousin, who, thanks to Riley Hospital, was able to survive a medical scare after birth.

Max Johnson, Dance Marathon vice president of external affairs, said he's passionate about Riley Dance Marathon for its commitment to Riley patients and for the people he's been able to meet along the way.

"I love getting to meet the families and I love all that Riley Dance Marathon does for these kids and these families," Johnson said. "The atmosphere is so great right now — there's so much hype and excitement. This is part of what makes Dance Marathon great for the students, too."

This is Johnson's fourth year participating in Ball State's Dance Marathon, and said he's looking forward to the continued events and activities the committees have planned, and of course, the ultimate fundraising reveal at the end of the night.

In 2015, 1,769 dancers joined Dance Marathon and participants broke their goal by raising $502,103.22.

Ball State's Dance Marathon has raised over $1.2 million for Riley Hospital for Children since 2003, according to bsudm.org.

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