Dance Marathon a fun way to fight AIDS
Dance Marathon is a 26-hour philanthropic dance party that
raises funds for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation,
while also educating about the HIV/AIDS pandemic. With the recent
success of events like World AIDS Day and Get Tested Week, it is
obvious that students are getting more involved in the fight
against HIV and AIDS and are committed to living smart and healthy
lives.
With nearly 500 registered dancers committed to staying on their
feet for the entire event and 2,000 more people expected to come
for portions of the event, Ackerman Grand Ballroom is the place to
be this weekend. This year will mark the fourth annual Dance
Marathon, and with the enormous success over the past three years,
it has outgrown its previous homes. This year, Dance Marathon is
moving from the Bradley International Center and Covel Commons into
Ackerman.
Last year, the marathon raised over $110,000. This year, we hope
to achieve our monetary goal of $150,000. Although we have hundreds
of dancers already signed up, we still need your help in a big
way.
We need Moralers, people who commit to a three-hour shift to
serve as a boost of energy to help the dancers make it through. You
can register at the event and, with a small donation of $20, you
can help this great cause.
Anyone who has never attended the Dance Marathon might ask how
an event structured around one of the greatest threats to humanity
can be fun in any way. With UCLA’s best student performers,
great DJs on the turntables, incredible live bands and celebrity
appearances, the entertainment never ceases. You’ll hear
inspirational testimonies from AIDS survivors, participate in
games, take pictures with your favorite celebrities, and have your
choice of a few hundred dance partners.
Please consider spending your weekend dancing for a cure. Come
to dance, come to meet people or come to learn more about this
tragic disease, just make sure you come.
Mark Deppe Fifth-year, psychobiology