Dance for life at ISU’s dance marathon, a charity event for children with cancer. The marathon will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the Prairie Room of the Bone Student Center.

All donations from the student-run event will go toward the OSF Children’s Hospital in Peoria.

Chelsea Gutchewsky, event organizer and junior sociology major, was involved in a previous marathon at the University of Iowa and was inspired by all the children and family members she met.

“They were just so grateful, and all of them said they couldn’t thank us enough,” Gutchewsky explained. “So it was just cool to see how much a difference we truly do make in their lives.”

UI has been putting on marathons since 1994 and has raised millions of dollars for the charity.

Other colleges, such as Purdue and Bradley University, have also put them on.

Each attendee is required to register online at www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/dancemarathonilstu and to raise a minimum of $100. Donations will be submitted to the participant’s page by clicking the donate button on the website.

Gutchewsky’s goal is to raise at least $10,000.

There will be almost nonstop music provided by a DJ and three meals and various snacks throughout the marathon.

Since there will be other entertainment and activities planned besides dancing, Gutchewsky encourages non-dancers to come as well.

One such activity will allow students to write the names of cancer victims or survivors they know on a board.
   
“It’s more to get them to realize how many people are affected by this disease and to see your families and everything like that,” Gutchewsky said.

Also, every hour, families from OSF will be talking about the experiences of their child afflicted with cancer.

It has been difficult for ISU’s dance marathon to find sponsorship and spread awareness because of how new the event is to campus.

Gutchewsky is hoping everyone will see the kids this year and that will make them want to do it again next time.

Registration cutoff is 11:45 p.m. on Feb. 7 and all donations must be in by the same day at noon.

If anyone wishes to help out behind the scenes, they can call 708-307-6523 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .