Category Archives: News
Fourth annual marathon launches with a spirited start
Sights and sounds from FCDM just before 2 p.m. registration
Dance Marathon committees make final preparations as FCDM begins
By Brooke McAfee, Elise Kurk, and Mitchell Lockhart
As students and volunteers prepare for a long day of activities, they express their excitement for today’s Dance Marathon.
Junior Sydney Davis, who is part of the Entertainment Committee, said she is excited to how much money is raised.
“I am super excited to see our total. I am really hoping we meet our goal,” she said.
Senior Eliza Hudson is part of the Morale Committee, and it is her responsibility to get people pumped up and teach the morale dance throughout the day.
“There will be a lot of games and activities and a lot of great Riley kids stories,” she said.
Another aspect many people are excited about is the free food. It is the Dance Marathon Committee’s job to find caterers to donate food. The food will include Tumbleweed, Beef ‘O’Brady’s, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Olive Garden, and Arni’s.
“We spend months leading up the the Dance Marathon contacting different restuarants seeing if they will donate food or sell at a discounted price,” said junior Gabby Gibson, who works on the Catering Committee.
Some of the events that are scheduled include a Hunger Games event, involving Nerf guns, and the Rave Hour, featuring strobe lights and a fog machine in a darkened room.
Kerry Jones, one of the heads of the National Art Honors Society, is working at a booth where students can make items for sick children.
“We are making puppy-pals and stuffing pillows…each pillow goes to a sick kid,” she said.
Senior Sarah Henry, an entertainment and decorations executive member, said although the activities are enjoyable, it is helping the Riley children that is most rewarding.
“I can’t wait to see the whole school come together for the kids,” she said.
FCDM has just begun. Check back throughout the afternoon and evening for continual coverage.
Dance Marathon members prepare endlessly in the hours before today’s event
By Alaina King and Hannah Cheatham
Although the fourth annual Dance Marathon for Riley Children’s Hospital does not start for another hour, the committees have been hard at work, some even sleeping on air mattresses in the school last night in order to finish decorating the gym.
“The committees started setting up right after school, and the girl room went to bed around 1:30 a.m. We got up at 8 a.m. and Mrs. Stansbury, Mrs. Martin, and myself made biscuits and gravy, eggs, and bacon for the executive committee,” said Katrina Uhl, one of the Dance Marathon Coordinators.
Only the executive members stayed the night, but others proved their dedication by staying late and coming in early to set up.
“I stayed until 9 and came in at 10 to prepare for the event,” said junior committee member Sydney Davis.
The committee’s main goal was to make sure the gym looked nice and all the booths were prepared.
“Staying the night here was awesome, we spent a lot of time putting things together to make it look great for today so everyone can enjoy themselves and have a great night since they raised money for the kids,” said senior executive committee member Tanner Cook.
Registration for FCDM is ongoing now. The event officially kicks off at 2 p.m. Check back for updates throughout the afternoon and evening for continued coverage.