More than 750 students packed Northwestern University's Norris Student Center for 30 continuous hours of dancing for charity in the college's Dance Marathon 2008 (DM08). The entirely student-run philanthropy event, which was in its 34th year, was held on March 7-9. An additional 300 students assisted in organizing the event and assisting the dancers with whatever they might need to stay comfortable throughout their 30-hour ordeal. DM08 was held to raise money for both Bear Necessities, a locally run nonprofit organization focused on curing various forms of pediatric cancer, and the Evanston Community Foundation.

Beginning in May 2007, an executive board comprising 24 undergraduates laid out the groundwork for how they could entice several hundred college students on an already busy college campus to take time out of their school years to raise money and campaign for a charity group they might have never even heard of before. One of the first steps in this process was choosing Bear Necessities, a local nonprofit group focused on finding a cure for pediatric cancer, as DM08's primary beneficiary. Bear Necessities' goals and their connections to the Chicagoland community, along with their devotion to improving the lives of children stricken with cancer, aligned with many of ideals of philanthropy NU's Dance Marathon strives each year to promote.

The weekend's more than 750 dancers were challenged with the task of not only staying awake for 30 hours but to dance for the duration of the event. Music, live performances and video segments entertained the dancers in both the student union's Louis Room as well as a climate-controlled tent on the union's south lawn. The dancers spent the vast majority of their time on the dance floor but they were given one 10-minute break every three hours.

Also entertaining the dancers were the event's two emcees, Northwestern seniors Todd Johnson and Adam Welton, who have emceed the event since their freshman year. The two helped keep the dancers upbeat with skits, videos and improvised presentations. Between the emcees, the hundreds of volunteers looking after the dancers, and the DJ, DJ Sims, who also stayed awake through the entire marathon, the event organizers made sure the dancers were taken care of during the event.

Students, university staff, guests, alumni, and members of Bear Necessities flowed through the student union taking in the spectacle that was hundreds of students dancing from Friday to Sunday for charity. One of the most amazed guests was Josh Brent, an 11-year old boy whose family found out about Bear Necessities when he was diagnosed with a germinoma brain tumor at the age of 8. Brent's successful surgery and treatment in 2005, which were called "a miracle" by his father and his doctor, were paired with support from Bear Necessities. Brent addressed the dancers at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, telling them, "The disease really does stink, but Bear Necessities makes you feel normal. So I just want to say thanks." Even though his audience had been dancing for nearly 27 hours, a roar of excited applause followed the young boy's words, and the dancers thanked Bear Necessities by continuing to dance until their 30 hours were complete.

Around 1 a.m. on Sunday morning, members of the Finance committee announced that the fundraising efforts of the hundreds involved in the event totaled a record-breaking $933,855. This final total, which surpassed the previous record by over $225,000, included $65,971 for the Evanston Community Foundation and $593,739 for Bear Necessities and their quest against pediatric cancer.

For more information about NUDM, please visit its Web site by clicking here. For more information about Bear Necessities, please click here.