5K for the kids
UDance board raises funds with run, encourages year-round support
8:32 a.m., July 2, 2013--While many University of Delaware students have taken to the beach for summer vacation, others have been actively fundraising for a cause.
The UDance student organization’s executive board has already begun its year-long fundraising effort in support of the 12-hour dance marathon that is currently scheduled to take place in March 2014.
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On June 20, UDance board members participated in the 5K for the Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation. The B+ Foundation was founded by Joe and Chris McDonough after their 14-year-old son Andrew lost his life to leukemia and sepsis in 2007.
Since that time, the foundation has not only been raising money to provide childhood cancer research grants but also providing financial assistance to families who are battling the disease.
The annual UDance Marathon at UD contributes to this cause, and organizations on campus have even adopted their very own “heroes,” raising money to support them.
Events are held year-round to raise funds and board members said they were pleased to participate in the 5K run hosted by the foundation in Wilmington at the Salesianum School, the high school where Andrew spent half of his freshman year.
Registration began in the early evening as spirited attendees and teams gathered in support of both the McDonough family and some of their “heroes.” The run kicked off at 6:45 p.m., beginning at Salesianum and weaving through the well-trodden paths of Brandwine Park, and following up along the winding stretch of creek. Organizers said the event drew thousands of people and was considered a large success.
The UDance team members said they were proud to wear their UDance and B+ gear, and wanted the rest of campus community to recognize that this battle continues year-round.
“A lot of people think we raise all the money that we do on the day of the UDance marathon, if not the few weeks leading up to the event. But we try to do events like this all year long”, said Joseph Zarraga, senior member of the executive board.
Team members said they are hoping other students will keep the cause in mind this summer and take advantage of being home to expand the range of donation input.
Engaging the wider campus community to take the initiative to raise funds this summer could serve as a tremendous aid to the foundation.
Senior Michelle Morreale, who leads the UDance social media accounts, said, “We want this year to be bigger and better. It’s our goal to have every person on our campus involved in UDance. With childhood cancer research being such a worthy cause and with UDance’s executive board taking such an early start, I know that it will be.”
Article by Angela Carcione