More than two hundred students danced for 26 hours non-stop Saturday and Sunday to raise money for pediatric AIDS patients and to establish what organizers hope will become a campus community tradition.
The second annual UCLA Dance Marathon, benefiting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, raised $46,786.09 for the foundation.
Dancers had to pay a $50 registration fee and raise at least an additional $100 each to participate. The dancers stayed on their feet for 26 hours, ate standing up, and stopped only for speakers and performances.
EGPAF, which has just received $100 million grant from President Bush, funds international action, research for Pediatric AIDS treatments and advocacy work in Washington, D.C., for AIDS treatment legislation.
This year, the event took the theme “The Real World,” with former MTV’s “The Real World” participants making appearances to introduce speakers afflicted with pediatric AIDS.
Dance Marathon Co-Chair Emily Whichard explained the significance of the theme.
“This is a real world problem that’s not in our faces every day,” she said.
Whichard said the event is not just a fundraiser, but a way to unify the campus.
“(Dancers) give up their day, time and body,” she said. “They are put in a position of hardship and realize that’s what (pediatric AIDS patients) go through every day.”
Dancer Brandon Brown, fourth-year psychology student and vice president of Alpha Omega Gamma fraternity, said at first it was difficult to imagine how simply dancing could make a difference.
“But looking at the kids they bring in, you see it’s really about showing support and transferring energy to them,” he said.
Speaker Cameron Siemers, a freshman at California State University at Long Beach and an AIDS patient, told the audience this was the best marathon he had ever been to.
“I want to tell you why you’re doing this,” he said. “You’re raising money for kids like me.”
Siemers, who was not expected to live past 10, said contrary to popular belief, AIDS is not a manageable disease and many children keep needing new treatments.
Now at age 21, as a recipient of these treatments, Siemers is grateful to still be alive and in college.
In addition to 225 dancers and 50 committee members, over a hundred volunteers and 450 “moralers” participated.
Clad in tights and a cape, head “moraler” Mark Deppe said his role was to keep dancers spirits up by coming in 3-hour shifts and providing energetic new faces and a changing environment.
Deppe, who danced last year and was on committee this year, said he was especially inspired by the amazing spirit the marathon raises.
“The marathon is effective because it raises money, but more importantly it raises awareness about the disease and crisis,” he said.
Dancer Jessica Reid, third-year political science student who attended with sorority Delta Gamma, said she had so much fun this year that she hoped to work on committee next year.
“My feet hurt, but it’s nothing compared to what children (with AIDS) have to face,” she said.
“I’m grateful that my soreness will go away tomorrow, but the impact I made will last forever.”