User:Dbassock/sandbox/Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM)

Indiana University Dance Marathon. Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM) is a completely student-run philanthropy event that occurs every fall here on campus. Throughout the year, members of our organization raise awareness and funds for the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The year culminates into our 36-hour dance marathon event, where more than 1,400 committee members and 3,000 other IU students stand on their feet for the entire duration to show how much we care for the kids in the hospital who unfortunately cannot due to disabling illnesses. IUDM is the second largest student-run philanthropy in the world and it's influence has even spread to high schools and smaller universities around Bloomington, IN. Since the organization's establishment in 1991, IUDM has raised over $28 million for Riley Hospital.

Riley Hospital For Children

Riley Hospital for Children is Indiana's first and only comprehensive hospital that is dedicated exclusively to the care of children. The hospital has provided hope and healing to children and their families for over ninety years. Riley Hospital, as well as the Wells Center for Pediatric Research heavily depend on the generosity of their donors to support them through clinical programs and pediatric medical service, which is where IUDM comes in. Riley is the leading hospital for pediatric care in the state and in its region, serving over 300,000 inpatients and outpatients each year. The hospital stands out compared to any other hospital in the state of Indiana because it is the only Children's Miracle Network Hospital, it is home to Indiana's only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, Pediatric Burn Unit, and Pediatric Dialysis Program, is Indiana's only comprehensive children's hospital, and treats more than 80% of the children in Indiana diagnosed with cancer.

Ryan White

IUDM was founded in honor of Ryan White in 1991 by IU Alumna, Jill Stewart. Ryan White, a 13-year old Hoosier fan, contracted AIDS through contaminated blood transfusions he received for hemophilia. News spread quickly of his diagnosis and soon his school district, in Kokomo, Indiana, denied him to return. This made for big headlines and caught the attention of Michael Jackson and Elton John who befriended Ryan, and began advocating on his behalf. The 13 year old was not only fighting his school district, he was fighting a misinformed stereotype.

Eventually, Ryan won his right back to school but began to fight his disease and the rest of the community. Him and his family faced harsh negativity from those around them, and even a bullet fired into their home. Courageously, Ryan would speak out on behalf of his disease and the public misconceptions across the country within schools, fundraisers, and even the President's Commission on AIDS.

After a powerful fight, Ryan White passed away on April 8th, 1990, the spring before he had planned to attend Indiana University. In his honor, IUDM was founded and the committee members of Indiana University Dance Marathon honor his legacy every day. The Ryan White Center for Infectious Diseases at Riley Hospital was created and allows Ryan to keep fighting for what he believed in. The Ryan White Center for Infectious Diseases is now fully funded and self-sustaining by IUDM and those funds are happily being put to other areas of the hospital.

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