Daily Iowan

Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Metro

Media Credit: Beth Skogen/The Daily Iowan [Click to enlarge]

In frigid temperatures, Don and Debbie Reinier, inspired by the Big Dance, camped outside their local Muscatine Wal-Mart for 24 hours aiming to raise $1,000 for the UI Dance Marathon.

The Reiniers - Don, Debbie, 8-year-old Sam, and 17-year-old Emily - became involved with Dance Marathon in 2002, when middle child Ben, then 9, was diagnosed with colon cancer, followed by a brain tumor in 2003.

When passersby asked why they weren't going inside to warm up, or home to rest, Don replied that "kids with cancer don't take a break, so neither did we."

Standing on the stage at 3:48 a.m. Feb 2, the Reiniers hoisted their own tote boards, revealing the family's earnings - greatly surpassing their initial goal with $4,705.56 - and setting the scene for a record breaking Dance Marathon.

The 14th-annual Dance Marathon continued, luring in a record number of dancers - 1,600 - and topping their $1 million goal at $1,003,636.14 at the end of the night.

Dance Marathon, founded in 1994, brings students, who must each raise at least $425, together for a 24-hour dancing free-for-all.



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"The best part is seeing how many thousands of people have come here together to help these kids, have come here together over a common cause," said senior Sarah Snyder, a morale captain who meets with her morale group of dancers throughout the fundraising process.

Snyder said she is now considering nonprofit work after graduation.

"I never thought about doing that before Dance Marathon," the two-year marathoner said.

When Rick and Rhonda Koepke took the stage in the IMU ballroom Feb. 1 at 10:30 p.m. to address the sea of green T-shirt-clad student dancers, it was to honor the life of their oldest daughter, Megan.

Continued...

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