"My sophomore year at Luther, a service organization I was a part of was contacted by a neighboring IIAC college asking if Luther would like to start Dance Marathon on our campus. Myself and 3 other friends decided to spearhead establishing the organization after learning more about the scope of Dance Marathon and its influence at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital in Iowa City. For the next 2 years, we worked to construct a constitution, establish an executive board, organize fundraising events, and ultimately recruit 31 Morale Captains and over 400 Luther students to pledge to dance at the Big Event. On April 12th, these students along with Decorah community members united from noon to midnight to dance for those who can't, including local Children's Miracle Network families. The $38,612.01 raised is indeed a testament to the generosity and unity of the Luther community and this organization will continue to do good in the years to come, all for the kids," Gumpert said.
After a year-long commitment from more than 500 people, the year culminated in a 12-hour long event where students stayed on their feet through dancing, games and entertainment in celebration of the total amount raised.
After two years of careful planning Luther students Paul Esker, Chloe Gumpert, Jordan Jensen and Libby Logsden convened an executive board and coordinated the event.
The public campus fundraising goal was $15,000, but Gumpert said the executive board wanted to raise one more cent than the 2013 Wartburg College Dance Marathon goal of $32,000.
The two largest sponsorships came from the community businesses of Mabe's Pizza and the Magpie Coffeehouse. Other sponsors included Pizza Hut, Happy Joe's, Pizza Ranch, Mr. Groovy's, Kepharts, Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty, Fridley Theaters, Oneota Co-op, Decorah Veterinary Clinic and Love Your Melon.