Indiana University Indianapolis students are prepping once again for Jagathon’s 10-hour dance marathon, which will return to the Campus Center on Feb. 22. The student-led event raises funds for Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research.
To symbolize the children they are helping, all participants are given a hospital wristband at the beginning of the dance marathon. These wristbands remain on until the end of the evening, when they are cut off during the Circle of Hope, Jagathon President Nicole Cremasco said.
She said it’s been challenging yet rewarding to be part of the experience these past few years. After moving to Indiana from Brazil, she said, Jagathon became the first place that felt like home.
“I loved the organization, I loved the cause, and I loved the energy; it was like a really big family,” Cremasco said.
Abbie Staggs, a sophomore and director of committee relations, enjoys volunteer fundraising. Staggs said they typically partner with a local event where Jagathon participants volunteer in exchange for funds.
MaKayla Waugh, a junior and vice president of finance, challenges herself and others to raise funds during push days each semester, when participants ask for donations and spread awareness. This includes Marathon to Miracles, when participants attempt to raise funds for the duration of 26.2 hours.
Those who attend Jagathon will also get to learn more about a few of the Riley children who will be in attendance and how Jagathon has made a difference in their lives. Samantha and Miles Brown’s story is one in particular that Cremasco has engrained in her memory.
“Samantha was diagnosed with kidney cancer when she was really young, then four months later, her brother Miles was diagnosed with leukemia,” Cremasco said.
Through Riley Hospital, Samantha and Miles were successfully treated and are now cancer free. Today, Samantha is enrolled in cheerleading, while Miles plays football. Cremasco said they often receive photos from them and are kept updated on how well they are doing.
Top fundraisers like Waugh and Staggs have raised thousands of dollars for Riley Hospital for Children. However, Jagathon extends far more than fundraising for them. Waugh and Staggs said they view it as a way of community, purpose and making an impact.
“Jagathon means being a part of something that’s bigger than myself,” Waugh said.
“Part of Jagathon has shown me how small efforts can create a big impact for changing kids’ health.” Staggs said.
Jagathon participants are often reminded to refer back to their “why”; for Waugh, it leads back to her first year of high school.
“About two weeks into my freshman year, one of my close family friends passed away from neuroblastoma and was a Riley patient, so I keep that reason very close to my heart,” she said. She hopes that the research done at Riley can assist in finding treatments or even a cure for cancers like neuroblastoma.
Staggs’ story dates to when she was working at Camp Riley and got an unusual answer to a common question.
“I was hanging out with these kids at Camp Riley, and they were going over what superpowers they would want,” Staggs said. “Some said superstrength, but then it gets to this one boy, and he says, ‘I just want to be healthy again.’”
That moment has stuck with Staggs ever since.
“This research not only funds more treatment but also funds more futures, it funds more birthdays; it funds so much more,” Waugh said.
All of the Jagathon divisions have been hard at work to ensure that the entertainment, catering, timeline and more are ready for the day of. The finance and media/marketing divisions have reached out to sponsors and created signs to promote the event, Cremasco said.
“It’s so exciting to go to the executive board meeting and everyone is so hyped about the main event coming up,” she said.
Before the confetti and the exciting final reveal of funds raised at the end of the night, participants are often overwhelmed by the emotions that take over during the Circle of Hope.
“We have a white wall that stays up throughout the whole event, and everyone can go and write their whys; at the end, the presidential board will read all the whys while all of the participants are in a circle,” Cremasco said.
“The whys are never the same, which is really inspiring,” Waugh said.
As they cut their wristbands, they are reminded of all the children who are currently still in the hospital — the children who must wear these wristbands for days or even longer.
Waugh said she hopes more students join in Jagathon and become part of the philanthropic work that is being done.
“I know it can be intimidating to ask for donations, but for every dollar that is donated to Jagathon, $10 are matched,” she said.
Cremasco encourages IU Indianapolis students to attend Jagathon even if they cannot stay the whole time.
“I know 10 hours sounds like a long time, but we have things to do the entire time,” she said. “We have food, we have free entertainment, and you get to know the kids and what we do.”
