UW Students invited to shake it for charity this Friday

The fifth annual Wisconsin Dance Marathon this Friday will raise money for the patients and families of American Family Children’s Hospital.

Organized by students, the marathon will take place from 6 p.m. March 1 until 9 a.m. March 2 in Great Hall of the Memorial Union. UW students may still register, joining or forming a team, or participating as individual dancers.

There will be free food and free entertainment during the 15-hour dance party. Along with tunes from DJ Jorge Estrada, students at the marathon will be treated to performances by the Madhatters, Hypnotiq, UW Redefined, Cheer Club, UW Dance Elite, the UW Band and UW Surma. In addition to dancing the night away, students will get a chance to meet kids and their families from the hospital.

The participants in the past four dance marathons have helped raise more than $265,000 for the children at AFCH. This year, the event organizers hope to raise another $100,000.

There is no fee to participate, but dancers must commit to raising at least $100 to join the event. Students who raise more than $100 will be entered into a raffle to win gift cards to numerous restaurants, including Tutto Pasta, Qdoba, Starbucks and State Street Brats.

Friends of marathon participants are encouraged to attend, and donations of $20 allow visitors to join the festivities for any two-hour time slot. The first and last hours are free and open to the public.

AFCH is a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2007 to replace the old UW Children’s Hospital. It provides a care environment responsive to the specific needs of children. The hospital features an internationally recognized transplant surgery program, a pediatric intensive care unit, a children’s cancer center and a pediatric asthma center.

Marathon director Candace Gaillard says 164 dancers have already registered. Students can register online.