Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon named best new event of 2011

Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon was held for the first time in April at Coe College where students raised over $25,500 to support local children in need through the Children's Miracle Network. This summer, as the sponsor of the national college Dance Marathon program, Children's Miracle Network chose Cedar Rapids as the "Best New Dance Marathon 2011."

The Cedar Rapids organization was chosen for the award based on the amount of money raised, the way patients and families were incorporated into the Dance Marathon, and the group's future growth potential. Dance Marathon is a national event lasting from 12 to 40 hours to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

The local marathon supports families from the Cedar Rapids area with children that have been, or are being treated at, the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. These children suffer from a variety of ailments - anything from major injuries and juvenile diabetes to premature births and birth defects. Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon is unusual because students from Coe College, Mount Mercy University and Kirkwood Community College collaborate to organize, promote and participate in the experience.

Next year, the Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon will be hosted at Mount Mercy.