24-hour Dance-a-thon benefits North Star Reach

Line Dance. Dead Bug. The Rave.

These phrases hold so much meaning to students involved in Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan. They mean hours of fundraising and planning events, hours bonding with their team and family, and 24 fun-filled, exhausting hours standing.

What’s the purpose behind all this crazy fun?

Each spring, over 1,000 college students from Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan participate in a stand-a-thon/dance-a-thon in support of pediatric rehabilitative therapies.  For this culminating event, the Indoor Track and Field Building at the University of Michigan is packed with students dancing to pop songs for the line dance, rolling on the floor in the sacred seconds of “Dead Bug” time, and going crazy at 4 am for the rave.

Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan (DMUM) strives to raise monetary support and awareness for the needs of the pediatric rehabilitative therapies. These therapies allow children with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities to live happy, full childhoods. Whether it’s riding a bike for the first time, participating in creative coping therapy, or bowling with friends, the kids of Dance Marathon and the therapies are what it’s all about. “Dancers,” as members of DMUM are called, stand for 24 hours in support of children everywhere who face staggering challenges, but the feat of 24 hours standing is nothing compared to the daily challenges that these brave children face. Pushing through the 24 hours of pain and exhaustion at the Marathon reminds Dancers of the challenges these kids face daily.

But what does a thousand college students standing for 24 hours have to do with North Star Reach?

Each year, the money Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan raises is allocated between C.S. Mott and Beaumont Children’s Hospitals, with occasional special beneficiaries. One such beneficiary is North Star Reach. Through a grant of $500,000 over 5 years, Dance Marathon has contributed to North Star Reach’s mission by enabling the construction of North Star Reach’s tree house on camp. This exciting partnership began a relationship between DMUM and North Star Reach that will impact kids’ lives for years to come.

Visitors and volunteers are welcomed with open arms to this year’s  Marathon. There’s nothing better than encouragement from friends, so come March 13-14 to the Indoor Track and Field Building to see what Dance Marathon stands for. Visiting hours are 2 pm-8 pm on the 14^th and 8 am-2 pm on the 15^th, and the inspirational closing ceremony is held from 1:45-2 pm on the 15^th. Best of luck to Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan in their fundraising efforts as they make the final push to the marathon!

Jess Bauer
Communications Coordinator,
Dance Marathon at The University of Michigan