The College of Charleston boasts more than 200 student-run clubs and organizations that represent the ideas, beliefs and ideologies of its students. While many of these focus on activities on the College campus, others aim to serve the community by service and fundraising.
Dance Marathon is basically a giant, all-night party with games, dancing, and food—and it raises money for the MUSC Children’s Hospital. Um, sign us up!!! We sat down with an Honors College student, Victoria Thompson, who acts as Assistant Director for the event. She told us all about the Marathon, which will take place on February 21st in T.D. Arena. Read our interview below!
HC: Hey, Victoria! Thanks for meeting with us. Could you tell us more about Dance Marathon and when it was founded?
VT: Dance Marathon at the College of Charleston was founded in 2007 in Charleston, SC. It is run through the Higdon Student Leadership Center, and our group advisor is Libby Cole. She participated in Dance Marathon when she went to college, and she is so passionate about the cause (as we all are). This will be our seventh Dance Marathon, and we are very excited! This year’s Dance Marathon takes place on February 21st at 7:30 PM in the TD Arena.
HC: What is Dance Marathon’s primary mission, and how do you carry it out?
VT: Our primary mission is always to raise money in order to heighten the quality of health in children. All of our proceeds go to MUSC Children’s Hospital, and every cent of the money goes to helping families and children there. This comes to fruition during the actual Dance Marathon event, which is essentially a giant party to celebrate life and all of the fundraising efforts of the participants. At this “party” we have games, dance instructions, concerts, a rave, scavenger hunts, food provided all throughout the night, and more!
HC: That sounds amazing. Other than the students, who else from the community participates in the event?
VT: All of the patients that we have worked with throughout the years are invited. As a member of the executive board, I get some privileges that are specific to my title as assistant director (such as a hospital tour of MUSC Children’s Hospital and contact with families throughout the year), but participants in Dance Marathon also have lots of opportunities to get more involved in the organization’s mission as well. Throughout the year, the primary goals of the executive board are recruitment and fundraising. We always have patient stories handy (stories of children that Dance Marathon has helped throughout the years) and we go to organizations and classes to speak about the cause. We also do various fundraising events, such as percentage nights at restaurants and basketball stands during College of Charleston basketball games. We’re very big on participation in Dance Marathon–the more that you participate throughout the year leading up to the event, the more you will get out of the organization.
HC: In your opinion, what’s the most fun part of working on Dance Marathon?
VT: For me, the most exciting part of being in Dance Marathon is being able to connect with the families and play with the children at the actual event. The look on their faces when they enter TD Arena is absolutely priceless. All of the families are so thankful for the work that we’ve done, and the children are so excited. During the event, the children really do look up to us as role models. They want to be your best friends when they leave the event–they ask for your email, cell phone number, address, etc because they want to send you letters, texts and emails. It’s definitely fun to be able to keep up with the children, and they become your pen pals for life. It is truly amazing.
HC: We can’t wait to participate and meet the children who are directly affected by your fundraising! As a student leader, what would you say are the advantages of organizing the Marathon?
VT: The benefits of Dance Marathon are limitless, but the few that come to mind are a deeper connection with MUSC Children’s Hospital (this is an organization that is PERFECT for people who are interested in the medical field, as well as future teachers), building a relationship with the children involved, meeting new friends from across campus (many or students from various organizations ) and, of course, knowing that you’ve played a part in saving the lives of young children!
HC: How much money do you contribute to the Children’s Hospital each year?
VT: The money that is raised varies from year to year. We don’t have a set goal that we have to raise as a whole (although each participant is suggested to raise $150.00, and most participants raise this through our fundraising events) which is why our total amount raised each year has a bit of fluctuation. Last year around $44,000 was raised, but in previous years there has been as much as $70,000. We’re always aiming for a higher amount of money raised! This year, I’m hopeful that we can break the record. All of the money raised goes to MUSC Children’s Hospital for various uses (improving the children’s atrium and being donated to families are two in particular that I saw in my hospital tour).
Dance Marathon is just one of many ways students at the College engage with the surrounding community, and we couldn’t imagine a more fun way to do it than an all-night dance party. Thanks, Victoria, for sitting down with us. We’ll see you all in the T.D. Arena at 7:30pm on February 21st!
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