Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2013, Page 133

Description:	RECORD BREAKINGNCBloomington South Dance Marathon 2013 was a sequence of small successesleading up to a record-breaking grand total.Following a long upheld tradition,senior executives proudly raisedlarge paper signs, which displayedthe grand total of money raised. Atthe end of an emotional six-hourevening and a year-long journeycame the final number:$70,029.31. This amount, whichwould go directly to Riley ChildrensHospital, effectively broke allrecords set in previous years. Therewere smiles. There were laughs.There were tears.But for Bloomington SouthDance Marathon 201 3, this was thelast of a series of broken records,culminating in this historic total.Nearly every event, from canning atWalmart to Coldstone CreameryNight to Red Hot for Riley, decisivelysmashed previously held amounts.The actual Dance Marathon eventalso saw the largest rise inattendance of all time, increasing by300 students.Last years marathon was sosuccessful. It was a good jumpingpoint. It grows each year as morepeople know about it, said seniorTori Champion, president of theorganization. She noted several newfundraisers that also helped sparkenthusiasm, such as Zumba Nightand Five Guys Night.In order to attract attention forthe Dance Marathon events, bothnew and old, spanning the monthsbefore the marathon, Championrelied on her publicity committee.She was quick to praise their use ofschool and social media andcreative videos. One member of thisteam, senior Faith Groff,recognized the payoff of her hardwork. We just tried to do everythingbigger and better, and it was adefinite success, she said.Another integral component ofDance Marathons record-breakingoperation was Bloomington Northsheightened participation, whichproduced, as Groff described, ahuge following of eager studentswho came to every single event.Combining the manpower of bothBloomington schools allowed formore money, more students andmore fun.A lot of people wanted tomake a difference individually forthe group, said junior ClayRiggins, a junior executive of theentertainment committee who playeda role in fundraisers such as Red Hotfor Riley.The product of a multitude ofdedication, energy and compassion,2013 Dance Marathons successwas a meaningful achievement forall involved. In the end, it madeeverything I worked on for the pasttwo years real. Its over now butweve done so much for the Rileyfamilies, said Champion. Similarsentiments of nostalgia andsatisfaction were shared among thegraduating members of theorganization.Although 201 3 was a year forthe record books, the futurewould likely bring evenhigher totals and more ^involvement. Next year ^Hthey will probably Vbreak our records too,acknowledged VChampion. MSo goes the cycle of ^Dance Marathon.- ELEANORE FUQUA
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/8685
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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