Dancing was not the only thing Key Club members did. They also played Wii, ate cupcakes, listened to families that go to Rileys , and hung out with fellow members. Photo contributed by: Ms. Stephanie Wezman
By Patricia Ortiz
Key Club has been very busy during the month of January. On the 16, the members volunteered for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and on the 28 they participated in the first ever Riley Dance marathon at Plymouth High School.
According to freshman Josh Kuhn, the Dance marathon took place from “three until half time of the varsity game that night.” The students did not have to dance for the whole time. They did, however, have to stand up for the whole time that they were at the Dance marathon. According to sophomore Travis Tredway, those participating in the Dance marathon had to stand on their feet from 3 P.M. all the way until halftime of the boys varsity basketball game because they were standing up for the children who go to Riley that can not stand up. Freshman Samantha Grant stood up for, “about 7 hours.” Since those participating in the Dance marathon did not have to dance for the whole time, there were other activities that they did while they waited. Sophomore Yoselin Galeano said that besides dancing they “played different games like corn hole, and we played Wii. And ate A LOT!!!”
Families who go to Riley Children’s Hospital were at the Dance marathon. According to Galeano, there were multiple families who came in and talked about what they have or had been through. Galeano also says that these families thanked the people raising money because it was a great cause.
Before the dance, students were looking forward to many things. Junior Alejandra Renteria was looking forward to, “having a great time dancing, but most importantly in raising money to help the Riley Hospital for Children.” T-shirts were made for the event. They were blue and said “Riley” vertically on the front of the shirt. Galeano said that the T-shirts also had “Plymouth’s Dance Marathon 2011!” on the front. Galeano says that on the back of the T-shirts it said Dancer as well as the name of the main sponsors.
Freshman Kylee Rippy said that the participants had to pay the $15 in order to participate in the event and that they also got a T-shirt. The money from the registration fee would also go toward the overall goal of $10,000. According to Galeano aside from the $15 dollars that all the members had to pay, they also had to raise an additional $25 to donate to Riley’s.
The money raised will not just go to Riley Children’s Hospital, but it will go to Castles on Wheels as well. Freshman Carly Berger said that, “When your being treated for whatever diagnosis you have, they [the people who are in charge of the Castles on Wheels] usually bring a castle wagon around filled with things to get the kid’s mind off of the pain.” Berger also says that these toys that are passed out help the children that are at the hospital smile.
The goal was to raise $10,000. Not only did they reach their overall goal, but those participating in the Dance marathon surpassed that goal. In the end, the money that they raised was $10,483.39. All of this money will, of course, be donated to Riley Children’s Hospital. There were a multitude of reactions when they finally unveiled how much money they had raised. Grant said that she felt “proud of all of us.” Excitement was in the air just because they had raised so much money. At first, raising all that money may have seemed impossible for some, but in the end what really mattered was that all the money was raised in order to help a worthy cause. Tredway admits that he was amazed at the amount of money they had raised. He was also a bit skeptical on whether or not all that money could be raised. Tredway said that, “the amazing morale of everyone involved allowed us to reach our goal of $10,000 and even more.”
Key Club memebers raised a total of $10, 483. 39 which will be donated to Rileys Children's Hospital. Photo contributed by: Ms. Stephanie Wezman