Dance marathon raises money for kids with cancer

For Davis Haines, a junior at University of Georgia, participating in UGA Miracle is quite personal.

“My older brother, Carter Haines, was treated at the Aflac Center at Scottish Rite for brain cancer while I was in high school,” he said. “He went through treatment, but eventually passed away. I joined (UGA Miracle) as a freshman looking to get involved as a way to continue being a part of the community that was there for me during a hard time in my life, which is exactly what I received.”

He is now the 2018-19 executive director of UGA Miracle, a student-run philanthropic organization at the university that works yearround to rally the campus and community supporters for their annual dance marathon supporting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Along with UGA, dance marathons are hosted by programs like Kennesaw State University Miracle and For the Kids at Georgia Tech. Students become involved in the on-campus philanthropic organization and commit to raising funds and awareness all year long for CHOA.

The year always culminates with an 8-24 hour dance mar- athon on each campus, where students meet patient families treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, participate in games and learn a morale dance.

The funds raised benefit various areas of CHOA. “The funds benefit patients treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The funds support programs like Rehab, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Children’s at Town Center Outpatient Care Center,” said Lydia George, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program Coordinator at CHOA.

Since 2010, the three programs at UGA, Georgia Tech and KSU combined have raised more than $7.5 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In 2018, UGA Miracle raised $1,261,077.18, KSU Miracle raised $330,541.18 and For The Kids at Georgia Tech raised $318,251.18

“Not only do students gain important leadership, teamwork and nonprofit business experience, they also demonstrate what an impact a group of individu

als can make. These students embrace the idea of “this generation fighting for the next”

and it is really inspiring to witness,” added George.

The movement started in 1991 at Indiana University when students created the event in memory of a friend who was supposed to attend the university but passed away. The movement now spans across North America benefiting hundreds of CMN hospitals.

More than $200 million has been raised by Miracle Network Dance Marathons across North America since 1991. Nationwide, more than $38 million was raised by MNDM programs in 2017 with 300 dance marathon programs by more than 250,000 student participants.

CONTRIBUTED Students at UGA Miracle raise funds all year and end with the dance marathon to raise money for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Along with UGA, Kennesaw State University and Georgia Tech host their own dance marathons to raise money for the local...