Published: January 24, 2007 10:22 am      

Reader asks for Dance Marathon support

Once again I am participating in Dance Marathon at the University of Iowa and I need your help! I am a junior now studying journalism at the University of Iowa and every year I participate in Dance Marathon.

Dance Marathon is a fund-raiser for children with cancer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. With the money we collect, Dance Marathon provides a wide range of support for the families of patients in the children’s cancer unit from financial assistance in the form of care packages to research projects.

I have personally gotten to know these families who are very unfortunate and spend many nights in a hospital room. They are wonderful, humble people who only ask for another day with their child. The marathon itself is Feb. 2 and 3, and I will be dancing for 24 hours straight; there is no sitting and no caffeine.

To participate in Dance Marathon every dancer is required to raise at least $400 (we’re encouraged to raise more, of course!). This marathon is a celebration of all the hard work we have put in to raise the money and to show these kids how much we care. I need your help, I am just shy of my total goal of $600.

Between class, work and studying, it is very hard to raise all that money, but I do it for the kids. Every dollar I raise goes to an incredible cause and to incredible people.

Do you personally know someone affected by cancer? There are sisters, sons, mothers, grandfathers, aunts, brothers, friends and many others who battle cancer. I hope a cure is found so one day these fund-raisers won’t be necessary. Until then, please domate!

Any donation can be sent to Dance Marathon, Kelly Warren, 145 Iowa Memorial Union, Iowa City, IA 52242. Please make checks payable to UI Dance Marathon. Be sure to put my name, Kelly Warren, on the memo line or in an attached note if it is cash so I can thank you for your donation!

For tax purposes, Dance Marathon’s tax code is 42-0796760. To make an online donation, go to www.dancemarathon.org and click on donate now. Be sure to fill in my name when making your donation, again so I can personally thank you. Thank you Clinton and to the Clinton Herald for your support!