It’s that time of year again in Chapel Hill. Midterms are kicking up, Fall Break is inching closer, and the avidly yakked-about Dance Marathon recruiters are back in the Pit, awaiting your arrival with a clipboard and a brightly colored tutu. Many people have made jokes about Dance Marathon, about the overly excited recruiters who won’t leave anyone alone and about the utter horror of standing for 24 hours nonstop, but as a committee member and lover of Carolina for the Kids, I’m here to tell you why you really should consider being a part of one of the best experiences of my life.

The Connections

When you sign up to be a part of the marathon, you aren’t alone. Two thousand other dancers accompany you throughout the 24 hours. You get to know them, you get to know the committee members who work to put the event together, and you get to know the families that the marathon benefits. On top of that, the marathon is unlike anything I’ve ever been through. It’s long and emotional and exciting and insane. When you walk out of Fetzer Gym, a full 24 hours after you entered, you leave with a connection that you could only share with those who had experienced beside you.

The Challenges

Standing for 24 hours is hard. Your body gets tired, your feet start to hurt, and around hour 10, all you want is a shower. But that’s the point. The kids and families that benefit from the marathon go through challenges everyday. But they aren’t standing around in a gym for 24 hours; they’re going through much more. Facing the challenge and overcoming it is a pretty great accomplishment. And I promise, even at it’s hardest; it’s worth it in the end.

The Lessons

My world was rocked last year when the parents of some of our kid captains got on stage to share their stories. (For those who don’t know, kid captains are patients of the hospital who benefit from CFTK and come spend time at the marathon.) Each parent shared a story of trials that was fought with heart, determination and joy. Each parent spoke from the heart. One parent in particular spoke about those of us participating in the marathon. She called us “world changers” and pushed us to continue our hard work. She also thanked us for all we do and expressed her overwhelming gratitude. She moved many of us to tears. The marathon is more than just a physical challenge -- it’s a mental one, too. But it’s a mental challenge that will teach you lessons you couldn’t learn somewhere else -- lessons about determination, hope, love and strength that is unlike any other.

The Kids

The kids. The kids. The kids. They’re why we do what we do. It’s on every t-shirt, poster, sticker and flyer you’ve seen. But man, once you meet these kids, you’ll realize how incredible they are. Once you get to play basketball with one of the boys or listen to one of the little girls sing her favorite song in the talent show, you’ll realize so much more. Getting to look into the eyes of someone who you’ve helped and getting to watch them smile and laugh and play for an hour could bring a ear-to-ear smile to the face of the most tired dancer in the room. Giving the kids and their families one less thing to worry about and one more moment to smile is why we do what we do. Experiencing it for yourself is indescribable.

Dance Marathon is an experience unlike anything you could experience on this campus. It’s hard and it’s long and it’s exhausting, but it’s also rewarding and life-changing. If you’re on the fence about wanting to sign up or even if you’re totally against it, come by the Pit. Let one of the committee members tell you why they stand for the kids and share their experiences with you. Knowing the whole story may change your mind.

As always, FTK.