Students at West Virginia University have a unique opportunity to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals on Feb. 25 at the Dance Marathon by dancing from noon to midnight.

This year’s event marks 13 years that WVU students have given back to their Children’s Hospital. Participants will be on their feet for 12 hours, line-dancing and taking part in group activities with fellow students and also patients from the hospital.

“It is a great opportunity to give back to the community and state,” said Andrea Tracewell, executive board president for the Dance Marathon. “It’s also a great way for students to get involved in a student activity.”

The marathon is completely student-run, and this year’s goal is set at $40,000 to top last year’s $30,000 total funds raised.

Students can register as a dancer up to the day of the event by visiting www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/wvudm. Once registered, the student is required to fundraise a minimum of $50 to participate. There is also an option to register as a spirit dancer, in which the person can fundraise without attending the event.

“Students will get the feeling of how rewarding it is to give up your free time as a college student to help out a child,” Tracewell said. “Families with children in the hospital go through a lot of suffering, and they’ve always come up to us at past marathons to express their gratitude.”

Local radio station WVAQ will DJ the event. Prizes such as an Apple iPad and gift cards will be drawn from the names of the students who fundraised $100 or more. All participants will receive volunteer hours and a T-shirt.

A total of $260,000 has been raised for the WVU Children’s Hospital since the marathon’s premier event just 13 years ago.

For more information and to register, visit www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/wvudm or call 304-598-4346 ext. 2.

-WVU-

mm/02/07/11

CONTACT: Andrea Tracewell, WVU Dance Marathon
304-544-5084, atracew@mix.wvu.edu

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