More than 500 students are registered to stay on their feet for 18 hours this weekend at The University of Toledo’s Dance Marathon to raise money for health care for children.

Participants in UT’s 11th annual Dance Marathon will spend the entire night in the Student Recreation Center playing games, participating in contests and activities and, of course, dancing. The event will run from7:12 p.m. Friday, April 13, to 1:12 p.m. Saturday, April 14.

“Dance Marathon is such a great event because you have the ability to see exactly where the money you are raising is going. We support the Children’s Miracle Network through Mercy Children’s Hospital in downtown Toledo. Students can sign up to go on a tour of the hospital to see what exactly their money is buying,” said Alex Friend, this year’s director of Dance Marathon. “Families who have been helped by money that we have raised also attend Dance Marathon. It is really inspiring for our participants to be able to interact with them.”

Friend said that each year there are about a dozen families who attend the event and share inspiring stories about their children battling the odds.

Last year’s Dance Marathon raised nearly $60,000 for families in the greater Toledo area. This year’s goal is $80,000.

Since 2001, the University community has come together to raise nearly $400,000 to support research and technology to uphold the standard of care for children.

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 (April 16, 2012)