BuckeyeThon 2013

I thought today I would share a little bit about a special event that takes place at Ohio State, called Buckeyethon.
BuckeyeThon is a dance marathon that benefits the Hematology/Oncology Department at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The goal is to raise enough money for research that will ultimately end childhood cancer. Nationwide Children's Hospital is located in Columbus and they will treat any child regardless of a family's ability to pay.

Brutus at the Opening Ceremony

There are many fundraising events and opportunities to raise the minimum required donation of $100 to participate in this dance marathon. Groups will form teams and be assigned different colors. I joined the Alpha Phi Omega team and we were on the black team!
There are two-12 hour shifts going from 8pm-8am and 11am-11pm.
I had the opportunity to do the first shift, 8pm-8am. I thought this would be the best since I am more of a night owl, but yet I didn't realize that this would mean going all day and then all night without any sleep. Next year I will think it through a little more and sign up for the day shift.
This year we raised...

$608,623. 29

It was a great experience and I am happy to have been apart of the BuckeyeThon process in ending childhood cancer.
This year I wrote over 300 fundraising letters and ended up winning "Dancer with the Best Effort" for the night shift. Unfortunately when I get tired, I get very grumpy. So at 4:30am I headed back to my dorm and was not able to receive my award that night. However, I just recently picked it up. It was a teddy bear with a backpack on its back with a bell inside.When someone overcomes cancer, they ring a bell in the hospital to symbolize that treatment is done!

Silver star= top fundraiser

Registration for BuckeyeThon 2014 has already opened and will be held February 14-15.

The Union

Register Here! 
I am excited for what next year's BuckeyeThon event will bring!