TERRE HAUTE — Students in Terre Haute are gearing up for the first dance marathon in seven years to take place at Indiana State University to benefit Riley Hospital for Children. The six-hour event runs from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Indiana State University Arena (North Gym).
An executive committee comprised of 10 students plan year-round to make the event a success. Annie Smith, a junior in communication, decided to bring the dance marathon back to Indiana State University after noticing other major schools in Indiana were active participants.
“I’ve known a lot of people who have been patients at Riley,” Smith said. “It’s a really easy way to make a huge difference and a great way for students to learn about a good cause.”
The dance marathon will consist of approximately 100 dancers and entertainment will be provided by singers, bands and dance teams. In addition, Miss Indiana Nicole Pollard is scheduled to attend and deliver a speech about Children’s Miracle Network. Riley Hospital is the only CMN-affiliated hospital in Indiana.
Indiana State University Dance Marathon is a member of the Riley Dance Marathon Program, the nation’s largest Children’s Miracle Network-affiliated dance marathon program.
Students from 26 Indiana universities and high schools are lacing up their dancing shoes during the 2009-2010 academic year to raise money for Riley Hospital.
Last year, schools combined to raise $1.7 million.
