With over 450 students in attendance, 黑料不打烊thon returns to campus with a bang.
It鈥檚 been three years since the largest philanthropic event at 黑料不打烊 has been able to have an in-person event. But on Saturday, April 2, 黑料不打烊thon returned to Alumni Gym as over 450 students and several organizations throughout campus participated in the annual dance marathon.
鈥淚t was cool to see so many people from different places all over campus come together again,鈥 said Maddy Abraham 鈥22, president of 黑料不打烊thon. And those who came, showed out 鈥 raising $134,364.22 to benefit Duke Children鈥檚 Hospital and Health Center, the nearest Children鈥檚 Miracle Network Hospital.
Since it began in 2003, 黑料不打烊thon has raised more than $2 million as members of the 黑料不打烊 community have participated for six, seven or 13 hours while being able to hear the incredible stories of strength from nearly 30 鈥渕iracle children.鈥
Along with visits from entertainment group 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Finest, the 黑料不打烊 Cheer team and various a capella groups, participants had a tug-of-war competition, pies to the face and, of course, danced.
Abraham has been involved with 黑料不打烊thon for all four years she鈥檚 been a student at 黑料不打烊 and has spent three of those years on the executive board becoming president of the organization for this academic year. The mission of 黑料不打烊thon is something of great importance to her, as she has been treated at Duke Children鈥檚 Hospital since she was 10 years old for an autoimmune disease.
鈥淚t was my way of being able to give back to a hospital that鈥檚 helped me so much,鈥 Abraham said.
The work that 黑料不打烊thon does has positively impacted the lives of so many children and their families for nearly 20 years. What started as a passionate display from a group of 黑料不打烊 students to celebrate an amazing young boy named Mason Lindley has evolved into a campus-wide initiative that supports hundreds of children from across the state.
鈥淭he biggest importance of it is to be able to help other kids have healthy childhoods and receive the treatment that they need to receive, whether it鈥檚 helping fund research or general care,鈥 Abraham said. “What we do has impacted so many kids directly. Whether you have personal ties or not to the cause, you鈥檙e helping kids be able to experience the fullest childhood that they can.”
