By Tamas Mondovics
For the second year in a row, a group of Strawberry Crest High School students have organized a special dance-a-thon to raise funds for a cause they feel is worth every minute. Named Chargerthon and organized by a small group of juniors—all members of the school’s IB program—the dance party was held to raise funds for the All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
The annual dance marathon was held in the Chargers’ gymnasium and required participants to stay on their feet for hours through dancing, games, entertainment and interaction with children’s hospital patients and families.
The students involved with organizing this year’s dance included Amruta Potdar, Jack Morrison, Kevin Chacko, Marcella Alfonso, Abbey Dodge, Devin Shah, Keshan Tejiram, Kiran Gordon, Miranda Perez, Madison Wallace, Morenike Fashoro, Megen Hernandez and Dalton Newberry.
Thanks to the hard work and support of all participating students, the dance raised a total $11,175.61.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN), a non-profit organization, hosts a Dance Marathon nationally involving college and high school students of over 450 schools to raise funds for 170 hospitals around the nation, and supports medical research and community awareness of children’s health issues. Chargerthon, in particular, raises money for the All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
“The purpose of the event is to stand for those who can’t,” said student parent Abby Wallace. “These kids do a wonderful job and put in a lot of time and effort.”
Last year’s event saw close to 100 dancers attend and raised nearly $3,300, a number that students had hoped to double this month.
“I feel incredibly honored and quite ecstatic that we have the opportunity to bring the Dance Marathon to our school,” said Strawberry Crest High School junior Jack Morrison. “We have visited All Children’s Hospital and have seen all the great things that CMN does.”
Fellow classmate Madison Wallace agreed when she said, “I am so incredibly proud to be a part of such an amazing cause and group of people who do so much to support the miracle network.”
For more information, visit chargerthon.weebly.com.
