After collecting loose change and donations for a year, a sorority and fraternity provided 12 hours of dance music to benefit Riley Hospital for Children.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and Phi Mu sorority co-sponsored a dance marathon Friday in Irving Gym, raising about $7,000. The marathon was one of six held in Indiana, and the only one sponsored by Greek organizations, hospital dance marathon coordinator Katherine Cain said.
"It's a little bit different with one sorority and one fraternity actually holding the event, but it's just as successful as other schools," Cain said.
Phi Mu community service chairwoman Sarah Keesling said the chapters collected money throughout the year by carrying donation buckets to the Scramble Light and placing them at local businesses. This kept the price of dance tickets and entrance fees low, Keesling said.
During Spring Break, Keesling's house was robbed and the $500 that had already been raised was stolen. Keesling said the situation appalled her, and the money couldn't be recovered.
"The money was clearly marked for Riley (hospital)," Keesling said. "They knew it was for the kids and still took it."
Cain said Riley Hospital plans to work with Ball State and the Greeks to ensure protection of funds. Cain said setting up a joint bank account is a possibility.
"It's not a good thing to hear that money was taken away from the hospital," Cain said. "Students work so hard to raise that money."
Two former hospital patients spoke to the 12 teams that participated. Sophomore Stephanie Lueke said their experiences reminded her that she was dancing for a cause.
"It helps to know what you're doing makes a difference," Lueke said. "It lets you see how it really affects people."
Keesling said about 100 people attended. Unlike last year, teams competed for points through playing games and choreographing dances. They lost points if members stopped dancing.
"Dancing for that long can get boring," Keesling said. "We thought we'd mix it up with the games and give them a chance to do something else."
Chi Omega member Megan Okuley shoved 19 marshmallows in her mouth to tie for first in Chubby Bunny, earning 10 points for one of Chi Omega's three teams. Okuley said Chi Omega planned to win the event -- and it did.
Okuley said the dance marathon was a bonding experience for her and her Chi-Omega big sister, Jenny Cook.
"This is really the first big event we're able to do together," Okuley said.
Keesling said planning the dance marathon was stressful, but helping the hospital kept her going.
"When the Riley families came in and spoke, I saw five or six people crying," Keesling said. "All that stress was absolutely worth it."
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