By Hannah Lilienthal

The fourth annual Wartburg College Dance Marathon raised a record $27,877 — nearly $10,000 more than last year.

Jenalee Grover ’12, executive director of Wartburg’s student-run event, said 186 students stayed on their feet for eight hours straight for the event to raise money for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.

In addition to a minimum $100 donation required from each dancer, additional money was raised by “flocking” residents’ yards in Waverly with plastic pink flamingos that would be removed only after making a donation, as well as selling nachos to students on Saturday nights.

“The biggest thing we found this year was that a lot of students raised money on their own,” Grover said. “A lot of people exceeded the $100. That really helped us get past our goal of $25,000.”

Despite its name, Dance Marathon is not all dancing. Activities like foursquare, a dodge-ball tournament, and a bouncy house kept the dancers busy and, most importantly, on their feet.

While the university campuses receive most of the attention for their Dance Marathon events, Wartburg also is making a big difference.

“We’re all doing it for the same reason. Ours may be on a smaller scale, but we still have all the energy and excitement that they do at the larger schools,” Grover said.

The executive team has its sights set on an even bigger Dance Marathon next year. Participants will be actively recruited. The executive team encourages everyone to give it a try.

“It’s for the kids,” said Macayla Briggs ’13, assistant executive director. “No matter what reason you go into it, I don’t think anyone can come away from Dance Marathon without being touched by the whole experience.”