As spotlights shone and the song “We will rock you” thundered in the background, 120 student dancers ran through a human tunnel to kick off the U’s first-annual Rock the U 26.2 hour dance marathon Thursday.
Rock the U is a student-run fund-raiser aimed at raising money for cancer research. All proceeds raised by the event will go to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
The 26.2 hour duration was chosen to reflect the distance of an actual marathon, 26.2 miles.
“People doing something together for a common goal really changes lives,” said Brooke Hathaway, Huntsman Cancer Foundation development officer and coordinator of Rock the U.
The event is expected to raise more than $60,000 for the foundation. Organizers are hoping to top $100,000.
Student dancers were required to raise $300 each to participate in the event.
Not only are student dancers raising money, they are also learning some of what cancer patients endure.
“They’re going to be fatigued, they’re going to be emotional, and they’re going to be hurting,” said Hathaway. “It’s going to give them a little taste of what someone with cancer may feel like every day.”
After the results of student government elections were announced, activities began. Twister, human checkers and life-sized Clue were some of the activities dancers participated in through out the night. Songwriter and singer Peter Breinholt also performed to help dancers pass the time.
Hundreds of volunteers attended Thursday night to help support the dancers.
“I’ve had family members affected by cancer that are gone now,” said volunteer Greg Mason, a sophomore in leisure services management. “That’s why I’m here.”
Other colleges have held similar fund-raisers and have brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Last year, Indiana University raised $960,000.
Travis Copier, an employee of the foundation, said the dance marathon is a nice alternative to more traditional fund-raisers.
“We wanted to get students involved by doing something different,” he said,
The Rock the U dance marathon will conclude Friday evening with Salsa dance lessons, a concert by Crash Four, awards, prizes and the announcement of how much money organizers raised.
Christopher PeddecordLisa Larson dances on stage in the Union Ballroom during the opening of the Rock the U dance marathon.