Music drifted through the Iowa Memorial Union’s Main Lounge as over 1,000 students crowded the ballroom for the University of Iowa Dance Marathon’s 32nd annual Big Event, which reached its halfway point at 7 a.m. Saturday morning.
The attendees reached their 12th hour of consecutive dancing Saturday morning, and though many dancers may have tired feet, the energy in the Iowa Memorial Union ballroom was electric as dancers continued to raise money for the UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital to support the fight against pediatric cancer.
Dance Marathon’s Big Event will run through 7 p.m. Saturday, when event organizers will reveal the amount raised to be donated to the children’s hospital.
Members show up to the marathon in style, wearing sunglasses, glittering skirts, and feather boas. The ballroom has bright disco lights, confetti, and posters displaying the names of children who have lost their lives to cancer. In the lobby, dancers take short breaks to rejuvenate themselves with snacks and energy drinks for the remaining 12 hours.
This is the Dance Marathon’s 32nd year, and they have raised over $37 million for pediatric cancer over the span of 32 years.
For many dancers and attending families, the event is much more than a dance party. UI fourth-year student Kennedy Brady said her friends and family have been affected by cancer. She has participated in Dance Marathon for all four years of college and has now become a dance leader.
“One of my high school teachers, his son, passed away from pediatric cancer,” Brady said. “I was able to celebrate that kiddo, as well, and be able to continue for him.”
For families impacted by cancer, the marathon serves as a way to celebrate their loved ones. Throughout the event, multiple speakers shared stories about how pediatric cancer has impacted them and their families.
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Burlington, Iowa, resident Anna Ertz has been attending the Big Event for 12 years in honor of her son Jackson, who died from cancer in 2014. She attended her first Dance Marathon after his passing and has continued to come ever since, driven by her commitment to the community and cause.
“It’s nice to come to a place where we can share his story, share his name, and it’s OK to cry, laugh, dance, eat, drink, repeat. You don’t feel ashamed about it, and everyone around you knows your story,” Ertz said.
Executive Director of the Dance Marathon, Campbell Wood, said members and attendees keep their energy high through a 24-hour schedule including music and video displays, a large support system, and a meaningful purpose.
“You feed off each other’s energy and the love for the kiddos,” Wood said. “What these kiddos are going through is much harder than standing for 24 hours, and it’s the least we can do for all of them.”