Holy Cross Dance Marathon Raises More Than $28,000 for Pediatric AIDS

On Jan. 26, more than 200 students, staff and alumni at the College of the Holy Cross danced the night away and raised approximately $28,355 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The College held a dance marathon, where participants danced from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., and conducted various games, activities, educational videos, and talks.

With the theme “Dance Dance Evolution,” participants danced to songs from throughout the ages. According to one of the student organizers Alexandra Hoffman ’15 the most significant part of the night was the silent vigil held at 3 a.m. for those who live with HIV. “The vigil created a connection between the dancers and what the event actually stood for,” she shares.

This year’s dance marathon raised approximately $4,000 more than last year. “The amount we raised shows how much power this event can have on people,” says Hoffman. “For 200 people to stay standing for a total of 12 hours to fight and spread awareness about this disease makes me very proud to call myself a Holy Cross student.” 

Founded in 1988, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation seeks to prevent pediatric HIV infections and to eliminate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy and prevention and treatment programs throughout the world.