from staff
More than 200 University of North Florida students will dance the night away in the UNF Arena for 18 straight hours to support pediatric programs at Shands Jacksonville and Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The event will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday and continue through noon Saturday.
The annual Dance Marathon is aimed at supporting the Children’s Miracle Network of Jacksonville/Brunswick. Funds raised by the Dance Marathon are used to purchase critically needed medical equipment, child life resources and educational materials for these hospitals.
The event is open to the public and attendees are encouraged to make a donation, which will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network of Jacksonville/Brunswick.
Dancers, who have been raising money to support the event, will enjoy music, dancing, games and competitions throughout the night. Special guests, including Miracle Children, who have been treated at either Shands Jacksonville or Wolfson Children’s Hospital, will also share their stories throughout the evening to motivate the participants.
In Dance Marathon’s first year, UNF students successfully raised more than $19,000.
“I’m confident that UNF students can surpass this amount and make Dance Marathon a major event on campus,” said UNF student Sammie Robins, president of Dance Marathon and a member of the University’s student-run Club Alliance.