News : Lion's Club News; For the Kids

Lion's Club News; For the Kids

Hayley Engler, a junior at the University of Iowa and a Vinton-Shellsburg graduate spoke to the Lions Club recently about the University of Iowa/Children's Miracle Network Dance Marathon. Hayley is on the recruitment and retention committee and has been involved with the Dance Marathon since she was a freshman at the U of I.

You can hear the commitment in her voice as she talks about the goal of raising money to fight pediatric cancer and to support families in their struggle. The Dance Marathon/Children's Miracles Network has raised over $27.5 million dollars over the past 25 years for the kids. In fact, FTK - For the Kids - is their slogan. They have been very successful in their efforts evidenced by the fact that they pledged $5 million dollars to the new Stead Family Children's Hospital which was completed in 2017. The 11th floor is called the University of Iowa Dance Marathon Pediatric Cancer Center.

The "Big Event" which culminates the year's efforts is February 7-8, 2020, when the students dance for 24 hours. Hayley said the participants are encouraged to stay on their feet the entire time motivated by the idea that if the kids and their families can struggle through their ordeal 24 hours on their feet is a small price to pay. Their mission is to create and sustain special projects to provide emotional' and financial support for pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients and their families treated at the University of Iowa Stead Family Chilren's Hospital, the universities very own Miracle Network Hospital.

If you'd like more information or make a donation to the Dance Marathon at the U of I, you can do to their website at dancemarathon@uiowa.edu.