Chelsea Backus is a believer in dancing for a cause.
Backus began her journey to become the president of Ball State University Dance Marathon at Bishop Chatard High School. She began as a dancer, then became involved in the organizational process.
"I got a call in the spring of 2007 saying they were revamping their program at Ball State," she said. "They asked me if I wanted to be president and I accepted."
Backus just ended a 12-month process planning for the 2009 Dance Marathon this weekend. The marathon lasted from 1 p.m. on Saturday until 1 a.m. on Sunday raising $10,093.81 before sending out the final requests for donations.
The first $10,000 raised will go to a "Castle Wagon," Backus said. The wagon visits each child's room and offers games and arts and crafts.
"The one they have has recently started to get kind of broken down and the new one will have a plaque with 'Ball State Dance Marathon' on it," she said. The rest of the money will go towards uncompensated treatments.
In 2006, 3,400 children from Delaware County were sent to Riley for treatment, Backus said. Also, she said that Clarion, a major contributor to Riley, has bought into the pediatrics department at Ball Memorial Hospital.
One of the many unique qualities of the fundraiser is the attachment those involved have with the hospital. Kyle Bushey, a sophomore at Ball State and in charge of Corporate Relations for Dance Marathon, said that it is because of a childhood condition that Riley is still the only hospital that can treat him.
"I was born with a cataract infection in my eye, and I was one of the first children Riley had ever seen with one," Bushey said. "I had to get my left eye lens removed and Riley was the only one that could do it."
Backus later said that there are numerous cases where the people involved in the fundraiser wouldn't be alive were it not for Riley's treatment. Throughout the Marathon last Saturday, young children and Ball State students took a few minutes to talk about their experience with Riley's. Backus said most were serious medical issues that couldn't have been treated by any other hospital.
"What I love about Riley's is they turn no child away for any reason," Backus said. "There are numerous cases where they actually go uncompensated for the treatment they give, and for a parent to have to look at their child and say 'they can't do anymore' or 'I can't afford the treatment' is heart wrenching and that's why I'm here. They've got some of the best doctors in the world and a number of their departments, like their pediatrics for example, are the best in the country."
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