AU Dance Marathon is first in the Southeast to raise $1 million in five years

For the fifth year in a row, hundreds of Auburn students gathered in the Student Center Ballroom to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network by dancing for 14 hours straight. AUDM raised a total of $424,617.01, smashing their goal of $395,000 and making them the first university in the Southeast to fundraise $1 million in five years.

Decked out in colors corresponding with their team, dancers spent February 6th standing in honor of the Miracle families at the local CMN hospital. Each participant was asked to raise money throughout the event.

We interviewed three AUDM veterans who worked tirelessly to make Saturday’s event successful. Seniors Grace Rudder and John Ahn served as Morale Captains. Their job was to encourage dancers and keep the energy high throughout the 14 hours. They’re also in charge of the line dances, which they then taught the dancers on the day of AUDM.

Elizabeth Earles is the director of FLP group, PAL, and their philanthropy is AUDM. She and her FLP members helped fundraise and spread the word about AUDM.

How much money did you personally raise?

Grace: “This year I raised $3,419.98 – my goal was just $1,680.”

John: “For AUDM 2016, I had a personal goal of raising $1,500 and I ended up raising $1,478. Although I’m a little disappointed that I was $22 shy of my goal, the grand total and the miracles our organization helped to make absolutely made up for it.”

Elizabeth: “I raised about $100, but my freshmen collectively raised $16,299.”

What was the best part about the entire day?

Grace: “The best part of the whole day for me was seeing Aidyn out of his wheelchair on stage. Normally, he is somewhat shy and overwhelmed because he is deaf and rather immobile. He was pointing out all different dancers that he wanted to join him up on stage so that he could make a rainbow of color. You just can’t make that kind of stuff up – it is why we do what we do.”

John: “For me personally, my favorite part of the day would have to be the last hour and a half where we rave in the ballroom and then watch the final reveal of our total. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that hard after seeing those numbers go up. But I think I speak for everyone in our organization when I say that the entire 14 hours of AUDM 2016 truly was the time of my life.”

Elizabeth: “The best part – a little cheesy and probably a lot of people’s favorite part – was getting to see the reveal of how much money they raised. All day everyone worked so hard to do something incredible for these kids and for Martin, a boy who lost his life recently but who never missed a Dance Marathon at Auburn.

“So to see how much we raised – knowing that, a little selfishly, I got to contribute to that even in the slightest really makes my heart happy. Food for the soul. And also because my FLP rocks and they made the biggest difference, so I owe all my favorite parts of the day to them.”

Will you try to come back next year?

Grace: “I will try my best to be there next year. I couldn’t imagine missing out on this experience and the return of alumni is getting stronger and stronger every year.”

John: “I will without a doubt try and come back to AUDM next year, even though I’ll be graduating this May. This year, several alumni of AUDM came to support us and it meant so much to us that they came back to continue in our cause. Seeing the AUDM alumni really showed me that the passion we all have for our kids doesn’t end once we graduate.”

Elizabeth: “I’ll definitely come back next year. I’ve done it for this long and I’ve always had a blast. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t go.”