Dance Marathon is on wheels, too

BOWLING GREEN, O.—The Student Recreation Center at Bowling Green State University won't be the only place BGSU students wear themselves out for a good cause this weekend.

Their philanthropic efforts for the Children's Miracle Network at Toledo's St. Vincent Mercy Children's Hospital will stretch all the way to Cincinnati—and back to Bowling Green.

As part of the 13th annual Dance Marathon, about 85 students will “Bike for Tikes” the 180 miles from Cincinnati. They will leave the BGSU Ice Arena for the Queen City on a bus at 5 p.m. Thursday, then arrive back on campus on their bikes Sunday afternoon, in time for the ceremony closing the 32-hour event.

The bicyclists are among hundreds of students participating in Dance Marathon, which will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday (March 29) in the recreation center. It culminates a year of fund-raising that will add to the more than $1.8 million raised over the last 12 years. The 2007 marathon netted about $194,000 for the cause.

The students are getting more help this year from BGSU faculty and staff, who have donated more than $2,000 to the effort so far, said Tom Bethany, who chairs the Faculty and Staff Committee within the student-run organization.

Roughly 25 faculty and staff members are expected to join the dance Saturday evening. During the hour set aside to recognize them, from 7-8 p.m., Dr. Linda Dobb, BGSU executive vice president, and Mary Edgington, director of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, will serve up classic tunes as guest disc jockeys.

For more information about Dance Marathon, visit www.bgdancemarathon.com or contact Tom Bethany at 440-292-5414 or Francesca Scull at 440-915-2174.

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(Posted March 28, 2008 )