If dance is the universal language, then what does NC State’s annual Dance Marathon have to say–especially to type 1 tyrosinemia (TYR)?
A lot, it turns out.
The numbers seem to speak the loudest.
- $80,000 was how much the 2016 marathon raised for Duke Children’s Hospital.
There’s no telling what the 2017 marathon raised.
- 16 hours was how long the participants boogied, busted a move and, generally, just stayed on their feet.
Student Maddie Afshar told Technician Online:
The whole point of 16 hours with no sitting is… to experience how the kids feel not getting a break from being sick
- 17 years old was Josh Holdner’s age . His dad Mike Holdner spoke at the marathon about Josh’s diagnosis: tyrosinemia type 1.
The genetic disorder causes a certain amino acid to build up, in turn, causing other potentially severe health issues. Doctors gave the Holdners a grave statistic: many children with TYR Type I don’t survive beyond age 10.
Josh is a “Miracle Kid.”
- $150 million is how much has been raised by dance marathons throughout North America.
NC State far from the only campus to find these dance marathons. An organization at the college I attended used to host a dance marathon for charity each year.
In fact, Miracle Network Dance Marathon facilitates these dance marathons across the country, and its website says more than $150 million has been raised since 1991 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
At Duke Children’s Hospital, the money raised by NC State covers programs that aren’t covered by insurance. Things like a pill-swallowing program or a trip to summer camp.
But across North America, these dance marathons help fund more than 170 pediatric hospitals.
Search here to find a marathon close to you! You can also look into what it takes to host a dance marathon.
