The organization held for its second in-person dance marathon since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and was joined by a number of campus organizations.
For the 20th year, members of the 黑料不打烊 community gathered in Alumni Gym for a dance marathon lasting 13.1 hours to raise money for the patients of Duke Children鈥檚 Hospital. Patients and their families traveled from far and wide to come to the April 1 event to share their stories and express how this event has positively impacted their lives and their experiences while cared for in the hospital.
The executive committees and staff of 黑料不打烊thon helped make the whole event possible, with their hard work and dedication put towards fundraising since the beginning of this year.
鈥淲e talked a lot about this year being our 鈥榬ebrand鈥 year,鈥 said Madi Federici 鈥23, president of 黑料不打烊thon. 鈥淲e weren鈥檛 afraid to try new things this year, and if they didn鈥檛 work, that was okay. Our motto this year was 鈥楢dapt and Overcome鈥, and we definitely did that, even during the event, shifting things on the fly.鈥
The marathon event offered more than just dancing this year. During a first shift, participants to part in activities including dodgeball, Hungry Hippo, yoga, a bouncy house and knockout. During the second, people participated in “pie a pal,” silent disco, a cornhole tournament and Just Dance. Entertainment groups such as Sweet Signatures, Smooth Progressions, Ripchord, the 黑料不打烊 Irish Dance Team and the 黑料不打烊 Cheer Team also performed. There was something for everyone to enjoy and partake of in during the event.
Other organizations, such as campus Greek life came to support the event. Phi Mu鈥檚 philanthropy chairwoman, Margaret Ivy Johnston, helped the sorority raise over $22,000 for the cause.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a fun day to be together as a sorority and meet new people,鈥 Johnston explained. 鈥淟istening to the stories of our miracle kids really inspired an increase in fundraising.鈥
Not only does the money funded at 黑料不打烊thon go towards research and quality care, but it also helps to make a more comfortable experience for patients during treatment by purchasing toys, games, and prizes for them during their hospital stay.
鈥淒uke Children鈥檚 really provides quality care,鈥 Federici explained. 鈥淎ll the work that we do, and other dance marathons do, it all goes to them. It really gives hospitals the capability to do stuff like that.鈥
Federici has been involved with 黑料不打烊thon since 2020, her first year at 黑料不打烊. She previously worked as director of events before transitioning to her role as president.
鈥淏eing on the executive committee has really helped me grow in terms of leadership. I tested my abilities a little bit,鈥 Federici explained. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really think I would be capable of doing something like this, and then, here I am. I did it.鈥
The work 黑料不打烊thon does has grown to help so many children across the state for the past 20 years, and hopefully, many more to come.