Please click here to read our feature story about this year's William Eli Busbee Award receipient, Melissa Brantley.

In 1973, Dance Marathon started as a simple dance competition on the campus of Penn State University. Today over 80 schools host dance marathons across the country raising more than $12 million per year benefitting local children's hospitals and other charities.

Currently in its 12th year at the University of South Carolina, Dance Marathon's mission is to raise emotional and financial support for the Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, located right here in downtown Columbia. Dance Marathon 2009 raised over $111, 417.72 and involved over 1,200 students.

Dance Marathon is an event in which participants must stay on their feet for 24 hours. During this time, they will compete in competitions, participate in games, view live bands and entertainment, be visited by children and families from the hospital, and, of course, dance.

Dance Marathon is the largest student-run fundraiser in the country. A student executive board spends all year planning the event and raising money. Other students are also chosen to be morale leaders, which help keep the dancers pumped up throughout the night.

In addition to the actual event in February, Dance Marathon hosts various other fund-raising and involvement opportunities such as a 5K Run/Walk in November, a Date Auction in January, and monthly fund-raisers at local restaurants.

Dance Marathon 2010 will be held on February 19th to 20th in the Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center. Dance Marathon hopes to raise over $125,000 this year, increase student involvement and increase community awareness.

For more information about this event please contact Kayla Hildredth, Media Relations Chair.