Dance Marathon At Mater Dei Raises Money For Riley

On April 5, members of the Mater Dei High School Dance Marathon committee bowed their heads in prayer before kick-starting a big evening at the Mater Dei High School gym. They concluded the prayer with a familiar phrase that was used throughout the preparation of this fundraiser: “Tonight we will stand for those who can’t.” 

Participants then laced up their dancing shoes for a long, fun evening of dance to benefit Riley’s Children Hospital in Indianapolis. Ten long months of preparation went into the event. 

The gym was filled with students from Evansville-area grade schools and high schools, along with parents, Riley Hospital families and patients, and other members of the Evansville community. 

In addition to plenty of music, dance marathon participants enjoyed inflatables, a silent auction, organized games, karaoke and more. Throughout the night, Riley families spoke about their experiences at the hospital, and Tammy and Andy Featherstone shared their story about their son, the late Sam Featherstone. 

The Dance Marathon Committee decided to dedicate this year’s Dance Marathon to the memory of Sam Featherstone because he was such an inspiration.

The night closed with a wrap-up video that led to the big reveal. The Mater Dei Dance Marathon surpassed its goal of $15,000, raising over $23,000. 

Support from the entire community was overwhelming and all of the hard work of the committee paid off. The sign hanging in the background of the school gymnasium was a good reminder for all of those attending and supporting the event: “Dance for a day, give hope for a lifetime.” 

Olivia DeWeese is a senior at Mater Dei High School and part of this year’s the Dance Marathon Committee.