With the ninth annual MU Dance Marathon less than a month away, juniors Joe Gauer and Danny Collins have spent the week standing in Speaker’s Circle to rally people for a good cause.
The marathon, which raises money for the MU Children’s Hospital through the Children’s Miracle Network, will be Sept. 24-25 at the Midway Expo Center .
Gauer, a member of Farmhouse fraternity, said although the marathon traditionally hasbeen a fraternity and sorority affair, organizers are trying to attract a more diverse audience.
“We’re trying to get dorms and other campus organizations to compete against each other,” Gauer said. “We even have three non-Greeks on the steering committee this year.”
He said this year’s goal is between 500 and 700 people.
Collins stressed, however, that the committeeisalso setting qualitative goals.
“It’s hard to motivate people to stay on their feet for 24 hours,” he said. “Instead of giving people food like candy, where everyone gets hyper and then crashes, we’re giving them things like pizza and soda.”
Collins went on to say that a winners’ party and trophy will be added as extra incentives.
Gauer said the best incentive for a group to participate is that they’ll be sponsoring an individual child, giving the event a more humane touch.
Today is the last day recruiters will be in Speaker’s Circle, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Gauer said volunteers may sign up for the marathon until Sept. 19. To participate, everyone must raise $50.
Information can be found online at www.mizzoudancemarathon.com