After a long week of tests, projects and papers, many students spend their Friday nights enjoying the nightlife Raleigh has to offer. Although most of these weekend outings only benefit a select few, approximately 500 student volunteers are defying the college norm to participate in N.C. State’s first Dance Marathon.
For 12.5 hours, a subtle homage to the 125th anniversary of N.C. State, volunteers will dance to raise funds and awareness for the Children’s Miracle Network, according to Mandy Burke, a senior in animal science and vice president of communications for Dance Marathon at N.C. State.
Dance Marathon, an extension of For The Kids, is a yearlong fundraiser, said Alex Lloyd, a senior in chemical engineering and the director of morale. Funds go to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to improve research, hospital environments and to provide a sense of normalcy for the children.
The event for Friday is set to raise funds for Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center located in Durham, according to Burke.
As vice president of communications, Burke talks directly with the hospital and recruited the 10 miracle families the event will specifically benefit.
“[The miracle children] are all ranging from 18 years old to about three years old,” Burke said. “It’s both boys and girls, and they’re all local.”
The 10 children are set to attend the event to share their stories, or have their parents share their stories in the case of younger children, at different times throughout the evening.
More than 400 dancers have registered for the event outside of the more than 100-person organization, totaling more than 500 people set to participate in the marathon. According to Burke, the event encompasses many types of dances and performances.
“We have everything from an alternative rock group to a Latin kind of dance group to a breakdancing group,” Burke said. “We have everything.”
All together, the event is set to have 16 performance groups of some type.
“Last time I checked, we have two DJs, five or six bands, five or six dance groups, I think three a cappella groups and the dance team and the football team,” Lloyd said.
Burke said the organization tried to include the football team and the coach to get as much of campus involved in the event as possible.
Other campus organizations with dancers include the Inter-Residence Council, some fraternities and sororities, and Impact Leadership.
Dancers will participate in number of events such as “Rave Hour,” “Beach Hour,” a morale dance and a synchronized dance to a mash-up of songs for participants to perform hourly. Lloyd said he and a team choreographed the morale dance having mashed the music himself.
Participants will also compete in five competitions such as “Minute to Win It,” “Finish the Lyrics” and a rap battle.
As director of morale, Lloyd said his job is to keep everyone excited and having a good time. He said he also led flashy events such as flash mobs over the course of the year.
“That’s the primary role, especially right before the marathon,” Lloyd said.
The organization hosts other events throughout the year, including a 5K, flash mobs and a miracle week, a week of events aimed to raise money for the miracle families.
The event is Feb. 22 from 7:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. Those interested in participating can sign up at dmncsu.org.
“We just want to show everybody what [For the Kids] really means,” Burke said. “It’s not just three words, it’s a life and a spirit that kind of infects everybody, so we want to spread that.”
