This weekend, Wake Forest University held its annual 12-hour dance marathon to raise money for the Brain Piccolo Cancer Research Fund. In one life-changing day, over 1,400 students danced for those who can't - and raised over $334,000 in the process.

Participating in a dance marathon like this one is nothing short of inspiring. The simple fact that an entire student body can drop everything to rally around such an important cause gives hope that one day we may actually find a cure for the disease that takes so many. However hard it may be to dance for twelve hours non-stop, it is worth it in the end. Here are the stages - with all of the ups and downs - of participating in a dance marathon:

1) Optimism

The day has just started and you cannot wait to be part of something so much bigger than yourself. You made sure to get lots of sleep the night before and energize yourself for the big day. You are positive that twelve hours of dancing is no match for the adrenaline pumping as you get ready to kick cancer.

2) Excitement

The marathon begins and you and all your friends are so excited to bust out those incredible dance moves. You tear up the dance floor, sing along to all of your favorite songs, and, of course, take tons of pictures. Maybe staying on your feet won't be so hard after all.

3) Commitment

A few hours pass and you start to feel your energy dying down. It's getting hot and your feet are definitely beginning to ache. However, you refuse to let a little discomfort slow you down. After hearing the stories of the champions whose lives have been so positively impacted by the money you have raised, you get just the boost you need to keep dancing.

4) Exhaustion

About halfway through the marathon, you lose hope that your body is physically capable of standing for another six hours. You look for any excuse to go to the bathroom and rest your legs, even if it's only for a few minutes. For a second, your mind goes a little crazy.

5) Hope

The night starts winding down and you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. You take advantage of every last second on the dance floor with your friends because you honestly cannot believe how quickly the time passed. You get a second wind knowing that, soon enough, all of your hard work will pay off.

6) Pride

The moment you have waited for all day is finally here. They reveal the grand total and you could not be more proud to be part of something so monumental. You know that your dancing has the power to change someone's life, and that makes everything else worth it. You are already counting down the days until you get to do it all over again.