DANCE MARATHON: FOR THE KIDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    When she was 6 years old, doctors found a lump under arm. They thought it was a tumor. She went to Riley Children’s Hospital. 

    A few weeks and a couple of surgeries later she was cleared, but junior Emily Probst never forgot the fear she felt.

    That memory motivated her to fight for the kids in Riley, which led her to Ball State Dance Marathon.

   “No child should fight this battle alone,” Probst said. “We are able to provide the hope for these children, the hope I didn’t have. I never want a child to be as scared as I was, or any parents to be as scared as mine were.”

     It’s a family affair for Probst. Her sister was on the executive board at for Purdue Dance Marathon, and another sister works as a nurse at Riley.

    Probst has dedicated three years to the organization as a committee member, part of the executive board and finally, leading the board as president.

    As president, she spent a few hours each day, planning meetings, writing agendas and communicating with her executive board.

     Dance Marathon may only be one day of the year, but the executive board doesn’t stop the planning.

   After taking office in February, executive board members assemble their committees and work through the summer. Over the whole year, they spend 150 hours in meetings.

     Four-year Dance Marathon contributor senior Angela Fowler said the executive board is challenging at times.

     As vice president of communications, she was responsible for keeping four committees motivated to the final goal.

     “It’s not all fun and games, especially at the rate we’re going,” Fowler said. “It’s a great time but it’s a lot of work. You get what you put into it.”

      Their year of hard work paid off at this year’s Dance Marathon, when it was revealed that the total raised was $344,801.

    Probst said the big reveal was shocking, but the contributions of everyone involved made it all the more special.

    “It’s student run,” she said. “No one helped us get there. No big corporate person had to come in and tell us what to do. It is Ball State students that raised $344,000 and to me, that is unbelievable.”