Newsroom

CORVALLIS - Oregon State University will sway with the music this Saturday (Feb. 23) as students stage OSU's annual dance marathon fund-raising event for the Children's Miracle Network.

Dancing begins at 1 p.m. on the basketball courts of Dixon Recreation Center, said Katie Davis, of OSU's Student Involvement. The 12-hour event is open to the public with a $20 registration fee for dancers, Davis said. Contributions are also welcome. In addition, dancers are encouraged to line-up $100 in pledges. Dancers can register in advance or at the door. For more information, contact Davis at 541-737-6342.

"This is our third annual dance marathon and it benefits the neonatal intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Hospital," Davis said. "In the past two years, the dance marathon has raised $8,500 for Sacred Heart."

In addition to dancing, local families who have been helped by the Children's Miracle Network will tell their stories to show appreciation of the event and as a way to motivate dancers, Davis said. Food will be provided for participants and prizes will be awarded for various levels of financial involvement.

Proceeds from the dance marathon help pay for medical equipment and supplies for infants, finance medical costs incurred by families, and help cover expenses such as hotel and food bills for families from outlying areas.

Children's Miracle Network raises funds and awareness for 170 non-profit children's hospitals throughout North America. Each year these hospitals treat 14 million children with all types of conditions and provide charity medical care worth billions of dollars. All locally generated donations stay in the community to benefit the local hospital and children.