11th Annual Dance Marathon Scheduled for Saturday, March 19

March 3, 2016 (Notre Dame, Ind.)— On Saturday, March 19, more than 300 college students will participate in the 11th annual Saint Mary’s College Dance Marathon (SMCDM). The 12-hour event, which starts at noon, has raised more than $700,000 for Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis since Saint Mary’s students brought the event to campus in 2005. The 2015 event raised $90,233.94 for clinical care and medical research at Indiana’s only nationally ranked and comprehensive children’s hospital.

The event takes place in Angela Athletic Facility from noon to midnight. The community is invited to attend Dance Marathon, which will feature the stories of six local families whose lives have been positively impacted by Riley Hospital. Saint Mary’s students raise most of the funds by pledging to stay on their feet for 12 hours and finding sponsors. The day of the event will include performances by student groups and an act by the Detroit Circus, as well as stories from Riley families, crafts, line-dancing, and a bounce house.

SMCDM is more than a one-day event. There are fundraisers throughout the 2015-16 academic year including a 5K run/walk, apparel sales, and Give Back Nights at local restaurants where a percentage of sales benefit Riley Hospital. There are also mini-marathons held by students at local high schools including Bremen High School, Elkhart Central High School, Rochester High School and Warsaw High School. The totals from all of these fundraisers are rolled into the SMCDM total, which is announced at midnight that night.

SMCDM is more than a long-distance relationship between Saint Mary’s College and Riley Hospital, which is three hours south of campus. Families from St. Joseph and surrounding counties turn to Riley Hospital and its regional clinics more than 5,000 times each year for compassionate care, comfort, and support for their children. For more than 20 years Riley Hospital physicians have traveled to South Bend to provide medical care for children. Ten out of 10 medical specialty programs are ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s 2013-14 edition of Best Children’s Hospitals.

Monetary donations are encouraged. Checks or cash can be mailed to Saint Mary’s College Dance Marathon, 244 Student Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Online donations can be made by following this link:
http://rcf.convio.net/site/TR/DanceMarathon/DanceMarathons?pg=entry&fr_id=1780

About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. Saint Mary’s College also offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College seeks, according to its mission statement, to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2016 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews. 

Contact for News Media: Gwen O’Brien, director of media relations, Saint Mary’s College, gobrien@saintmarys.edu (574) 284-4579

About Riley Children’s Foundation: Riley Children’s Foundation supports Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Camp Riley and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home. As Indiana’s only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families since 1924. Each year children from all 92 Indiana counties turn to Riley Hospital and its regional clinics throughout the state more than 300,000 times. Riley Hospital’s partnership with Indiana University Health and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine make Riley Hospital the leader in pediatric care in the state and the region. For more information, visit RileyKids.org.