Lights flashed, music blasted, and volunteers gulped down caffeine as the University of Iowa Dance Marathon’s biggest event of the year came to a close, raising $1,695,270.32 for the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital to support its fight against pediatric cancer.
Hosted in the Iowa Memorial Union ballroom, volunteers shouted “F-T-K,” standing for “For the kids,” waving their arms in the air, and dancing with kids around the room. The event marks the 32nd “Big Event,” which has raised over $37 million for kids and families facing pediatric cancer.
“You brought the organization back to magic again. Thank you for everything you did. This is an incredible number and an incredible story. I hope you all come back next year for an even bigger number,” Campbell Wood, fourth-year UI student and executive director of UI Dance Marathon, said.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, UI Dance Marathon saw a decrease in participation and donations, with years prior to the pandemic seeing totals in the high $2 millions and topping just over $3 million in 2018. However, over the last few years, the organization has continued to raise donations once again, with the amount raised in 2026 surpassing the 2025 event, where $1,558,324 was raised.
The UI’s Dance Marathon is the largest student-led philanthropy and student organization on campus, with over 200 leadership members and over 1,000 dancers.To participate in this year’s DM32 Big Event, dancers are required to pay a $30 registration fee and raise a minimum of $400. This year, the event hosted more dancers than any year since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Seeing that number at the end, which is an increase from last year, that’s always a positive now,” Avery Burgad, a second-year UI student and line captain, said. ”It’s just, it feels so rewarding to see our numbers go up in dancers, money, leadership, all of it, just growing because we’ve been in such a rut since covid, and this was really weird. This kind of brought us out of our rut.”
After the 24-hour mark had passed, dancers broke into tears, hugging each other after the long day’s work.
“Once you start in the organization, you won’t get out until you leave. Like, you’ll find a big remaining, a deeper meaning each year, whether that’s a family connection or an all leadership connection. There’s always something there, and this organization’s so much bigger than the money we raise. It’s all about the families and the people we need,” Burgad said.
Farrah Ganske, a second-year UI student and a member of the hospitality committee, said she has devoted a lot of time throughout her week to make this event happen, but that the time is worth it.
“I’ve told everyone this, this event changes your perspective on everything and how you see life, the rest of your journey,” Ganske said. “We are so lucky to wake up every day and to be in a position to be able to fight for these kids. It is such a blessing, and I’m never done until these kids have a childhood and there’s a cure and they’re healthy.”
Melissa Dangelser, the mom of Owen Dangelser, who fought acute myeloid leukemia and died in August 2025, closed out the night talking about her son and the impact the organization had on her family.
“Our family is so thankful for the Dance Marathon and all the help they provided us through this journey,” Dangelser said. “One of the most meaningful things was the assistance for the funeral costs, something we never prepared for, because Owen’s passing was never a question to us.”
The night was filled with a mix of emotions. Celebrations were made over the fundraising success, but tears were shed as dancers remembered the many kids who had lost their lives battling cancer.
“It ranges from very excited, happy emotions for the kids who are living out their dreams, their wishes, and then the kids that weren’t so fortunate,” Burgad said. “I think this organization does a very good job showing both sides of cancer, pediatric cancer.”