Tag Archives: FCDM

Fourth annual marathon launches with a spirited start

Members of the morale committee get pumped up only minutes before the beginning of the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Members of the morale committee get pumped up only minutes before the beginning of the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Sophomores Lindsey Suer and Mackenzie Wortham enter the gym for the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Sophomores Lindsey Suer and Mackenzie Wortham enter the gym for the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Committee members form a tunnel for participants to run through before the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Committee members form a tunnel for participants to run through before the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Committee members show their spirit as students enter the gym. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Committee members show their spirit as students enter the gym. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Senior Lane Mehling enters the gym along with other FCDM participants. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Senior Lane Mehling enters the gym along with other FCDM participants. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Junior Grant Vellinger and Dance Marathon coordinator Matthew Townsend get the crowd excited at the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Junior Grant Vellinger and Dance Marathon coordinator Matthew Townsend get the crowd excited at the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Sophomores Olyvia Hundley, Grace Neal, and Annie Sung prepare to learn the morale dance. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Sophomores Olyvia Hundley, Grace Neal, and Annie Sung prepare to learn the morale dance. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Seniors Josh Becht and Trevor Smith take a knee during the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Seniors Josh Becht and Trevor Smith take a knee during the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Denise Taylor tells her story at the opening ceremony. Taylor's daughter was hospitalized at Riley Hospital. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Denise Taylor tells her story at the opening ceremony. Taylor’s daughter was hospitalized at Riley Hospital. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Juniors Emily Naville and Chad Lawrence hang up signs near the registration tables. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Juniors Emily Naville and Chad Lawrence hang up signs near the registration tables. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Dance Marathon coordinator Anne Martin practices the morale dance before the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Dance Marathon coordinator Anne Martin practices the morale dance before the opening ceremony. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Seniors Scarlett Hartlage and Kelsi Dempster place their handprints on a tarp to commemorate their participation in the marathon. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Seniors Scarlett Hartlage and Kelsi Dempster place their handprints on a tarp to commemorate their participation in the marathon. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Senior Reese Tarr signs up at the registration table. Photo by Meghan Poff.
Senior Reese Tarr signs up at the registration table. Photo by Meghan Poff.

Sights and sounds from FCDM just before 2 p.m. registration

The FCDM Moral Committee gets into the spirit for the FC Dance Marathon. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
The FCDM Moral Committee gets into the spirit for the FC Dance Marathon. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
FCDM participants register before the opening ceremony, which started at 2 p.m. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
FCDM participants register before the opening ceremony, which started at 2 p.m. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Sophomores Paige Muntz and Anjei Sivamohan gets their picture taken at the photo booth next to the gym. "I heard about (FCDM) when I was a freshmen and I wanted to help out and help Riley's Hospital and I been stuck every since,"said Muntz Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Sophomores Paige Muntz and Anjei Sivamohan gets their picture taken at the photo booth next to the gym. “I heard about (FCDM) when I was a freshmen and I wanted to help out and help Riley’s Hospital and I been stuck every since,”said Muntz Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Sophomore Anjei Sivamohan puts her hand on the FCDM banner. "It's a fun way to help others and it's a good way for the school to come together,"said Sivamohan. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Sophomore Anjei Sivamohan puts her hand on the FCDM banner. “It’s a fun way to help others and it’s a good way for the school to come together,”said Sivamohan. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
FCDM participants add their handprints to the banner throughout the afternoon. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
FCDM participants add their handprints to the banner throughout the afternoon. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Schedules are posted throughout the performing arts area to let everyone know what will happen throughout the day. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Schedules are posted throughout the performing arts area to let everyone know what will happen throughout the day. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
FCDM sets up banners to help everyone remember who this event is about. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
FCDM sets up banners to help everyone remember who this event is about. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Activities are set up throughout the performing arts area. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Activities are set up throughout the performing arts area. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
FCDM members set up tables for different activities. Senior Mallory Grantz helps out giving tattoos for anyone that wants one. "I help out because I've had family members whose been sick and I would want to know they'll get the help they need just like Riley gives," said Grantz. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
FCDM members set up tables for different activities. Senior Mallory Grantz helps out giving tattoos for anyone that wants one. “I help out because I’ve had family members whose been sick and I would want to know they’ll get the help they need just like Riley gives,” said Grantz. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Visual arts teacher Kerry Jones and parent volunteer Lisa Schweinhart help out at the "Make A Stuff Puppy Pillow" station for kids at Riley's Hospital that would like to have a stuff animal. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.
Visual arts teacher Kerry Jones and parent volunteer Lisa Schweinhart help out at the “Make A Stuff Puppy Pillow” station for kids at Riley’s Hospital that would like to have a stuff animal. Photo by Jonathan Blaylock.

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.