‘Dance to Make a Difference’ benefits Children’s Hospital
CU hosted its fourth annual dance marathon, titled “Dance to Make a Difference,” to raise money for the Children’s Hospital on Oct. 21.
The sponsors included KB Toys, Sam’s Club, Dreyer’s Ice Cream and Papa John’s Pizza, among others. At the event, there were towers of pizza boxes, pie-eating competitions, music, video games, face painting and balloons.
Children, as well as CU students, participated in a pie-eating contest. With whipped cream on her face, Gabrielle Bayless, 9, said the most fun thing about the event was that they were “raising money for the Children’s Hospital.”
The Dance Marathon benefits the Children’s Hospital in Denver. Greek students pledged their time and raised $100 for the benefit. CU students beat last year’s contribution before the event even started. The hospital will take the funds CU raised and use them, said Monique Bronner, coordinator for the Children’s Miracle Network.
The Dance Marathon raised nearly $52,200.
“This money is going to one of the top 10 Children’s Hospitals in the country. The fact that we can have it here is pretty amazing,” said Debbie Seusy, whose daughter was a patient at Denver’s Children’s Hospital in 2002.
In 2002, Madeline Seusy was diagnosed with Wilson’s disease. As a result, Madeline had to have a liver transplant. She now helps raise awareness about liver disease and said she hopes to become a CU nurse one day.
Her mother, Debbie, said that Madeline wouldn’t have survived 20 years ago. Kids that are struggling to survive will probably make it now because of advances in medical technology like those found at Children’s Hospital, she said.
“We invite patient families so they can interact with the college students, so they can have hands-on experience with the kids,” Bronner said. “Each patient family is invited to come to the stage and thank college students for all their hard work.”
A young girl walked timidly to the stage and said, “I just want to thank everybody for doing this. I want to thank the Tri-Deltas for sponsoring me.”
Each Greek house that was involved in the CU Dance Marathon sponsored a child, said Alyson Mizke, a junior advertising major.
“It was $15 to participate (in the CU Dance Marathon). There were a lot more than 100 people in each house, so it made up for any money that wasn’t donated from outside members,” Mizke said.
The funds raised will help pay for new equipment, the care of current equipment and support programs for children who are treated at the hospital, as well as for their families.
“This is the kind of thing that you enjoy and you want to come back to next year. You’ll spread the word about it. It hits your heart and it’s a selfless act that any college student can do,” said Chris Kline, a senior Spanish, international affairs and marketing major. “You merge the things you do outside your daily lifestyle for the greater good.”
There were approximately 300 students from CU present, as well as 20 former and current patients, families, volunteers and administrators from the Children’s Hospital.
“It is really rewarding because it is great thing for the Greek community to come together. We’re all (doing something) for the same cause,” said Michaela Kovacs, a junior English education major.
The CU Dance Marathon lets the Boulder community see that college students care about their surrounding community, Debbie Seusy said.
“For me, it reinforces that there are people out there who will continue to raise money to help kids. I am constantly in awe. This just shows what caring people can do when they get together and bring something to the public light,” Seusy said. “Every day I count my blessings, and to see young people taking time out and doing something like this enforces that it will only get stronger.”