This year, Boston College Dance Marathon raised more than $25,800 for Boston Children's Hospital, an impressive 49 percent increase from the amount raised last year. BCDM contributed to a total of more than $3.1 million dollars raised by dance marathons across the country to benefit the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
The 12-hour, high-energy event at the Flynn Recreation Complex, organized by BC Class Councils, brings together BC students and Boston Children's Hospital families. Various student dance and musical groups perform, and participants are encouraged to stay on their feet through dancing, games, and activities.
What is a 12-hour dance fundraiser like? Take a look at this video produced by John Walsh '17.
Dance Marathon "represents a day or night spent at the hospital,” Head of Event Operation Carlee Palmer, MCAS ‘17 explained to The Gavel. “We put on hospital bracelets and cut them off at the end of the day. What really moves me is to see these kids so happy and so positive after already having gone through so much at such a young age. Life is too short to have negative energy, and I think dancing is one of the best things you can do for that.”
“I’ve been a patient at Boston Children’s [Hospital] for almost 16 years now,” Dance Marathon planning committee member and participant Maggie Mansfield ‘19 told The Gavel. “As a patient from Children’s—and a lifelong patient at that—I think it’s really important and interesting for other students to realize that it’s not just the hospital down the street. There are people here who have been affected and impacted by Children’s. For me, it’s a really special cause because they have saved my life multiple times.”
—University Communications