This was written for the UNI Dance Marathon blog but I wanted to share it here as well.
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People always ask me why I do Dance Marathon. They ask me why I take so much of my time and dedicate it to a position that I am not even paid for. They ask me why I am fundraising for a cause I am not affected by. They question my sanity. They question my heart. And they question why I care about DM so much more than I care about sleep.
Every single time somebody asks me these questions I respond with a simple answer, “Have you ever done DM?”
It almost never fails that the people that ask those questions are the people that have never done DM before, but the people that have done DM, get it. They understand why I do what I do. They get why DM is such a huge part of my life. They understand why fundraising is so important. They understand that DM isn’t just a student organization. It’s a lifestyle, a way of life. Dance Marathon a movement.
In 12 days, I will be dancing for the kids. I will be dancing for brighter futures. I will be dancing with the hope that someday, Dance Marathon won’t exist. I will be dancing for a cure for childhood illnesses.
Anybody who has attended a Dance Marathon before understands the impact a dollar can make on the lives of the miracle kiddos. If you haven’t attended Dance Marathon before, you might not understand why fundraising is such an integral part of the DM equation, but meeting the kiddos and seeing what your fundraising supports will change your attitude toward it real quick.
I encourage you, if you haven’t started fundraising yet, use these next 12 days to raise as much money as you can for the kids. Many people, including myself my freshmen year, attend their first Big Event and quickly realize how easy it is to fundraise. Don’t wait until the Big Event; start fundraising now. I promise you won’t regret it.
- DV