VSU Dance Marathon to Host Fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network Hospital

VALDOSTA – Valdosta State University will host Blazer-A-Thon from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, in the Student Union ballrooms.

During the event, participants must stay on their feet for six hours to raise funds and awareness for University of Florida Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, Fla. VSU Dance Marathon’s goal is to raise $10,000 before the end of the evening.

A hospital within a hospital on the University of Florida Shands campus, Shands Children’s Hospital boasts 167 beds, including fully equipped pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. Its physicians provide the full spectrum of pediatric specialty services, treating children with everything from autoimmune disorders to brain tumors, chronic kidney disease to congenital heart disease, epilepsy to cancer, sleep disorders to seizures, spinal deformity to digestive diseases, diabetes to neurological disorders, and more.

“The money we raise makes a huge impact on the lives of children and their families,” said Samantha Watson-Jones, VSU junior and Blazer-A-Thon’s director of finance. “I had the privilege of visiting the children’s hospital a few weeks ago and it made me realize how important dance marathon events are to the hospital and children in them. I saw the direct impact of our money at work, and it was truly inspiring.”

Valdosta State University Dance Marathon is a philanthropic organization that works year-round to raise funds for the children’s hospital. This year, it partnered with the Kappa Beta chapter of Phi Mu. The sorority supports Children’s Miracle Network as its national philanthropy.

Dance Marathon strives to unite the community and the VSU campus to support the children’s hospital.

Faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees, and friends of the university are invited to choose an hour during the evening to join the event. The organization suggests that visitors make a donation towards the fundraising goal.

Visit www.blazerathon.wixsite.com/mndm or email blazerathon.internaldirector@gmail.com for more information.