PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITY

WHAT: Rollins College students will host their third Dance Marathon to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Students participate by staying awake and on their feet – dancing to various live bands and DJs and enjoying comedians and other performances – for 12 hours straight. The effort needed to stay standing up and constantly in motion symbolizes the students standing alongside the physical and mental struggles children with critical illnesses face daily.

Two years ago, the inaugural Rollins Dance Marathon was recognized as the "Best New Dance Marathon" out of 17 launched nationally and as the most successful first-year dance marathon ever produced in the event's 13-year history. In 2008, students kept up the Dance Marathon spirit by raising more than $29,000. In this current economic climate, the students’ main focus has been to raise awareness of, as well as funding for, the assistance Children’s Miracle Network provides to over 17 million children annually.  

WHEN: From Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. until Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 a.m.

VISUALS:

• Get photos/video of students dancing.
• Get photos/video of Miracle Families attending the event.
• Interview student leaders and participants about their experience.
• Talk with Rollins administrators about the event.

ADDITIONAL PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITY:

• Natalie Fernandez (Class of 2013) – Fernandez was sharing a father/daughter dance at her cousin’s wedding when she began to fall ill with an intense headache. As the pain continued that evening, Natalie went to her local community hospital.  Tests showed Natalie had suffered a ruptured anterior communicating frontal lobe brain aneurysm – a condition that usually causes serious debilitation and is often fatal.  Natalie was airlifted to Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida where she underwent a 10-hour surgery.  She spent nearly five months at Shands; the first month she was in a coma and on a feeding tube.  When she woke up, Natalie was transferred to rehabilitation to learn to walk and eat again.    The Children’s Miracle Network provided vital funding for the equipment Shands used to treat Natalie. This year, Natalie is a freshman at Rollins and is assisting with the Dance Marathon event. A first-hand beneficiary and avid supporter of Children’s Miracle Network, Natalie spoke at the event last year and will be on hand as a student participant this year.

• Winter Park High School students will participate in Dance Marathon from 6 to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Cornell Campus Center on the Rollins College campus, 1000 Holt Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789

BACKGROUND:

Dance Marathon is the largest and most successful student-run philanthropy at Rollins College. Entirely student run, the Dance Marathon donates 100 percent of the funds raised directly to Children’s Miracle Network affiliated hospitals (including Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children located in Orlando).

Community members are welcome visit the Dance Marathon (an hourly donation of $5 is suggested).