Dance like nobody’s watching at the RhodyTHON fundraiser to raise money for Hasbro Children’s Hospital. PHOTO CREDIT: Greg Clark | Staff Photographer
After two long years of working around COVID-19 protocols The University of Rhode Island’s RhodyTHON dance marathon is back in full swing.
“RhodyTHON is a nonprofit student-run organization,” Paige Nickla, the executive director of RhodyTHON, said. “We are a year-long fundraiser that raises money and awareness for children who are treated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.”
Coming together to plan the main event takes a board of over 50 people from directors, to executive members and committee members, according to Haley Leclerc, the director of membership.
Leclerc said the dance marathon is a time for the University community to come together and celebrate the work they have done throughout the year to raise money for Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
Some of the fundraisers that have been held this year included partnering with local businesses such as Narragansett Nutrition, movie nights and game nights with the miracle families, according to Nickla.
“Miracle children are children who have been treated at the Hasbro Children’s Hospital for their respective illness and choose to further represent the hospital’s value and mission by becoming a miracle child,” said Nickla.
Other THON events are hosted all around the country at different colleges every year, including HuskyTHON at the University of Connecticut and THON at Pennsylvania State University which runs through the Children’s Miracle Network. Proceeds for RhodyTHON go directly to the Hasbro Children’s Hospital not to the Children’s Miracle Network, according to Nickla.
Leclerc said that this year coming out of the pandemic has created more excitement for the large in-person marathon that will take place in Mackal Field House with upwards of 1,000 people expected to attend.
Students are able to participate as individual dancers or in a team with friends or a club on campus.
“Dancing does not necessarily mean dancing for all 10 hours, but standing up for the full time to signify that the kids never stop fighting,” Leclerc said.
In addition to dancing, there are many activities during the day to keep participants engaged. Each hour has a different theme, with some revolving around the miracle children’s stories others calling for students to show their Rhody pride, according to Nickla.
“You can bring different outfits to match the themes, there is a photo booth, food, raffles, booths and games,” she said.
One activity is a time-out section where the miracle kids or friends of the participant can place a dancer. To get out of the zone there is a checklist of activities to complete, such as calling a family member to donate or posting about RhodyTHON on Instagram.
There will also be multiple performances from different on-campus organizations such as Rhody Ridiculousness and Exposure.
The last two years with the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on RhodyTHON and the connection with the children, according to Nickla.
“For them, it means more birthdays, more celebrating and getting to enjoy their lives more,” Leclerc said.
According to her, at the end of the event, the organizers will announce how much money has been raised for Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
The event will take place on April 2nd from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.. To get involved with RhodyTHON, follow their Instagram account @rhodython or check out their website to donate. Community members can register through the link in RhodyTHON’s Instagram bio, all proceeds from registration will go towards the fundraising total.