Dance Marathon Lights Up Holland for Kids’ Hospital

Hope College is setting up a nonstop dance event that will last all night and into the next day. The fundraiser starts at six in the evening on Friday, March 13, and will finish early Saturday. The goal is to pull in $300, 000 for DeVos Children’s Hospital. The venue will be the Dow Center. About 600 people are expected to join, including hospital patients and their families, volunteers, dancers, and anyone who wants to watch. The dance marathon is open to the public; no tickets are needed, but donations can be sent to dancemarathon@hope. edu. The opening will bring the Dream Team of 28 student leaders onto the stage. They will lead families and supporters through a tunnel from the Bultman Student Center to start the night. During the program, guests will meet hospital families and hear their stories.Activities are planned for every hour. Friday nights will feature the Bluewater Kings Band and a martial‑arts show. Saturday mornings open with a lip‑sync contest, followed by a talent show later in the day. The silent disco—new this year—will let up to 500 people dance together with headphones. Other fun options include line dancing, Zumba, a game of Family Feud, and worship performances by the college team. The president of Hope College will speak in the morning with families in attendance. Closing ceremonies begin at 4:20 p. m. Saturday. Awards will be given, a video recap shown, and the total amount raised announced. Leaders from both Hope College and DeVos Children’s Hospital will be there. The effort starts months before the event. More than 150 students begin planning at the start of the school year, setting up committees, recruiting performers, and coordinating with the hospital. Money raised goes straight to programs that help children and families in the NICU, support research, and train nurses.