
Christmas Memories from our Miracle Families
Merry Christmas from all of UNI Dance Marathon! Our Miracle Families have some of their favorite holiday memories that they wanted to share with you! Addie Brenden: Being released from the hospital BMT unit on Christmas Eve 2014 after over 50+ days in the hospital and almost losing our Addie girl! It was a true Christmas miracle and a gift from God that we were able to bring her home. A memory we will remember forever. Rose Wolff: Every Christmas with my family is special bec


The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
December: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” can be heard on many radio stations, and those who know me know that I couldn't agree more. Christmas really is my favorite time of the year, hands down. There’s the magical excitement for kiddos, the cheerful moods the holiday season brings, all of the pretty lights and decorations, baked goods (let’s be real, all the sweets are a blessing as I am a big sweets girl), and, most importantly, spending time with friends and fa


Mini Marathons Making a Big Impact
Dance Marathon cannot run if it wasn’t from the hardworking individuals who make up and run our various committees. Today we are highlighting our Outreach committee. Outreach has the task of putting on and hosting mini-dance marathons around the state for different school districts and other organizations. It has been a great way to connect and educate students in grades K-12 about UNI Dance Marathon and our mission. Freshman Haley Allen said she chose this committee because


#SiblingSaturday
Today is #SiblingSaturday, and Audreanna Zapf, UNI Dance Marathon dancer, has shared her brother’s story with us. Carter Zapf is 11 years old, and was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in June of 2018. “Dance Marathon has helped Carter and my family so much through this tough time. A couple ways they have helped are covering the supplies that were needed back home after he started chemo, as well as, covering our parking expenses," Audreanna said. "Carter went through one of the mo


A Year-Long Movement
Whew. We made it. Winter break is upon us. Maybe this semester felt long to you, maybe your course load felt insurmountable at times, maybe you are just as exhausted as I am after this semester and this winter break is just what you needed. This winter break is a month to relax, rejuvenate, and... fundraise. Without the pressure of classes, homework, and group projects, winter break is a time to get creative with your fundraising. Offer to shovel snow for a neighbor in exchan


Raising More Than Money
When many people think of UNI Dance Marathon, they think of the success that we have had in raising money for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. They think of the numbers and the dollar signs. One thing that many people forget is the aspect of raising awareness, because what does raising awareness really do? By raising awareness for children with life threatening illnesses and injuries, we spread the word of these diseases and accidents in hopes that som


Supporting the Hospital: 3 Rooms So Far
The University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital opened its new 14 floor hospital on February 25th, 2017 becoming Iowa's only comprehensive children's hospital. The hospital has served nearly every U.S. state and makes miracles happen daily. Three of the rooms in the hospital were committed to fundraising for the hospital helped to fund the three rooms in the hospital that are now named after UNI Dance Marathon. The first room is a Patient Room in the Pediatric Intensi


November Dancer of the Month
November’s Dancer of the Month is Lauren Mattson! Lauren is a Sophomore General Music major. Creativity and years of collecting with her family really sparked her fundraising for this year. She and her family have been collecting Build-A-Bear Animals since she was about 8 years old. They had over 50 bears which she decided to sell at a craft and vendor sale in her hometown. "My mom suggested out of the blue ‘Oh you should sell the animals at the fair,’ and I thought ‘Oh my go