Clemson students to dance the night away at Dance Marathon

Published: March 5, 2012

By Mary Mattox

CLEMSON — Students at Clemson University will literally dance the night away at the third annual Dance Marathon Friday, March 9, in the Fike Recreation Center gym. The dancing starts at 5 p.m. and continues until 9 a.m. Saturday, March 10. This event raises money and awareness for Safe Kids Upstate at the Greenville Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network.

In 2011, 368 students participated in the Dance Marathon, raising a total of $26,735.71.

The 16-hour event is full of entertainment, including live DJs, interactive games, yoga, Zumba and performances by student a cappella groups TigeRoar and TakeNote. Some of the families of the sponsored children will attend.

“The children get the experience of being able to have a ‘normal’ night. They can come, hang out with college students, dance and leave knowing that there are hundreds of people who care about them and want to help them and their families,” said Nathalie Matthews, executive director of Clemson’s Dance Marathon.

Student organizations can register to sponsor a specific child through the program. Last year, 25 children were sponsored.

“Last year, the kids that came to our event took home the banners that were painted for them. It’s just a simple way to show support and have all the children that we are dancing for represented,” said Matthews.

People can get involved by registering or donating online.

Clemson’s Dance Marathon team is one of two organizations that fully fund the Safe Kids Upstate program at Greenville Children’s Hospital.

“My dream for this event is to see it became something that other people are as passionate about as I am," Matthews said. "I want to raise awareness for the monetary need that Safe Kids Upstate and Children’s Miracle Network have. All of these children that we are helping have dreams, and we just want to make them come true."

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