Above: Members of SAU Dance Marathon display the final amount of money raised at their Big Event. Photo Courtesy of Annaliese Bowser.

“Big Event” is what many students refer to as “the best day of the year,” as Vice President of External Communication Katie Brewer says, “It is truly the best day ever, just being able to watch the kids be able to be kids.”

Dance Marathon is a “student-led, year-round philanthropic movement, uniting students across the United States and Canada in raising critical funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.” St. Ambrose Dance Marathon raises money for the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. The organization’s 12-year total is over $2 million. There are over 400 different campuses around the country that host Dance Marathon programs.

At SAU, every dollar fundraised through Dance Marathon goes straight to the Hospital. The organization has helped fund the Food For Families Program, Child Life Resource Space, NICU equipment, a brand new inclusive playground for the UI Center for Disabilities, and Development, research, and training for Ponseti International, resources for the General Nursing Fund, and this year the fundraising project was general NICU Expansion. The hospital is home to Iowa’s only Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)—the highest level recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This means that the NICU is equipped to care for the most critically ill babies, offering a wide range of neonatal services and support. In addition, the hospital has the only nationally ranked neonatology program in the state.

The SAU event took place on April 5th. Participants danced and celebrated their 61 local kiddos and miracle families for 13.1 hours. The marathon was held in the Rogalski Center on St. Ambrose campus, decorated from head to toe. There were countless colorful posters, balloons, and streamers covered the walls. Many featured popular Dance Marathon sayings, such as “Kids Can’t Wait”, “Change Kids’ Health, Change the Future”, and “Let’s Make Babies Healthy”.

Above: Theme banner shown in the Rogalski Center. Photo Courtesy of Annaliese Bowser.

For 13.1 hours, members of Dance Marathon did not sit down, but instead stayed standing in solidarity with everything their kiddos have had to endure during their fights with pediatric illness. Throughout the day, there were countless activities as well as family talks from the miracle families, whose kids have been or are currently being treated at the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Around 12:15 A.M., 13 members of Dance Marathon enter the stage holding posters revealing the total amount of money raised throughout the year. They put on a small show first, flipping the cards to reveal different sayings in time with a music backtrack. In the end, when the final total was raised, St. Ambrose Dance Marathon raised $180,614.32 for the NICU at the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital. 

Addie Hendrick, fundraising director, talked about the emotions felt during that moment, “At the end of the night, when the final total was revealed, there was not a dry eye in the room! Every dollar raised is another miracle made, and all the proceeds go directly to the Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. I loved watching all our hard work come together, and of course, all the smiles on our kids’ faces.”

There were also events such as face painting, yard games, Zumba, yoga, a Mr. SAUDM pageant featuring dancers, and more. Every hour on the hour, there was also a Morale dance. The Morale dance is carefully choreographed by the Morale Director, Kennady Sparks, and her team of Morale Captains. The dance is around five minutes long and features several different clips of songs. Its job is to keep dancers energized throughout the long day, as well as adding to the fun. Kennedy Capman, freshman dancer participant, says “the morale dance was the most exciting event that we got to do. I would always run to make sure I made it to the dance in time!”

Miracle Family, the Nagles, give their Family Talk. Photo Courtesy of Annaliese Bowser.

Work has already begun for Dance Marathon 14, with President and Vice President interviews being held this week. Efforts for St. Ambrose Dance Marathon never stops, because as they say, “Kids Can’t Wait.”

Annaliese Bowser is a staff writer for The Buzz.