Three years after being released from Riley Hospital for Children, a Ball State student will dance to support her friends at the annual Dance Marathon on Saturday.
Claire Riley, a junior psychology major, was a Riley kid with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer that originates in white blood cells and affects the lymph system.
She said she wanted to join Dance Marathon because she had a great experience at Riley Hospital.
“Not only do they take care of kids, but they also have all these extra programs to add to your overall experience,” Riley said. “While I was in the hospital I met a lot of really great kids who gave me a lot of inspiration.”
The executives of the marathon, hosted in Ball Gym, are expecting a record turnout, continuing their pattern of doubling attendance each year.
So far there are 1,316 registered dancers but Alexandra Donaldson, director of media relations, said they also account for at least 300 visitors and around 20 Riley families. Last year, 719 people registered to dance, according to a Daily News report.
Donaldson, a junior public relations major, said she is looking forward to seeing the event inspire people the way she was inspired when she attended last year.
“It seriously transforms your life,” she said. “You leave the 12 hours feeling so inspired and definitely want to give back, so I am just looking forward to seeing everyone’s faces when the total is revealed or when a different family comes up and speaks about how Riley has touched them.”
The event, which starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and runs until 2 a.m. Sunday, raises money for Riley Hospital for Children.
Donaldson said the goal this year is the highest yet. They hope to raise $100,000 and reach 60 kids through Riley’s programs.
Of the total, $30,000 would go toward the Magic Castle Cart program, which delivers toys and other gifts to children in their hospital rooms.
“We really think it’s important,” Donaldson said. “We go down to the hospital itself and we have done the Magic Castle ... we know that is one of the things that makes their day ... That is something [the kids] love about [Riley], they love that there is something happy in the hospital even though it is a traumatic and sad time for them.”
The rest of the donations support the hospital’s palliative care program, which provides extra medical attention for children with serious illnesses to provide further pain relief, Donaldson said.
This year, the marathon will have more entertainment including the Ball State University Singers, Outlet Hip Hop Dance Troupe and the acoustic duo South Six 5.
Donaldson doesn’t have a personal experience with Riley, but she still thinks it is an important event to support.
“There is always a possibility in the future that I could have a close member of my family or someone that I know really well could be there, so I feel like it’s always about paying it forward,” Donaldson said.
