Encore: How UNI Students Shattered Goals and Raised Over $50K 'For The Kids' By Dancing

Dakotah Reed was hoping to raise $14,000.

That's about $1 per  student, and it was the goal for UNI's inaugural Dance Marathon, a fundraising effort for pediatric cancer patients. The event is a long-standing yearly tradition at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

UNI senior Reed helped bring it to Cedar Falls this year.

The event, which was held in late February, , more than four times the goal. Reed had hoped 200 students might participate. Instead, 700 dancers and volunteers .

"I thought it would be a miracle if we ever met that," he said of the original goals. "We never even expected or even dreamt that we would have the outpouring of support that we did."

Through Dance Marathon, students recruit volunteers to raise money, and the fundraising culminates with, well, a dance marathon. In recent years, the event has become a popular student tradition on numerous college campuses.

UNI's dancers weren't allowed to sit down or consume caffeine for 12 hours.

It's not just about proving your stamina or dance skills. The event's tag line --- "For the kids!" --- reminds all involved that they're not raising money for a faceless cause. These are children receiving care at the University of Iowa's Children's Hospital. These are children living with cancer and life-threatening illness. And, on this night in February, these children interact with dancers, showing up on dance night for some adoration and fun.

Reed said seeing the 20 families which participated this year interact with the student dancers was one of the most rewarding parts of the event.

"When you see the children that we're affecting, bonding and interacting with the college students... college students are often given the label of a lazy bunch ... But that event shows it's not true."

He said his other favorite part was working the team of students that made the event a reality. The business management major is an active member of student government and was given the task to see if Dance Marathon would work at UNI.

He said when former student body president Joel Anderson asked if he would take it on, "I kind of laughed at him. But then it kind of became a lot more serious."

He started making calls and talking to people on campus.

"Really, I became very quickly intrigued," he said. "In late January (2011) I attended ISU's Dance Marathon, and it was just amazing to me what they were doing."

Before he knew it, a student group was formed and an executive team assigned. Soon, dancers were being registered. And then more dancers.

"It just started spiraling," he said. "It was a whirlwind of an experience."

Other area organizations also pitched in, with  at  and a number of elementary schools.

"It just speaks to the compassion of the Cedar Valley," Reed said.

And next year?

"Hopefully, it will only get bigger and better," he said.