By Mackensie Judge
Quinnipiac’s annual dance marathon QTHON has been cancelled due to the coronavirus. Students will still be raising money throughout the rest of the semester with hopes that there will be a virtual dance marathon in April.
“We want to do a virtual dance marathon to celebrate everyone that was involved to make this year successful,” said senior Rachel Taylor. “In addition, we want to reveal our total for the year.”
QTHON is a yearlong fundraiser that Quinnipiac University participates in each year. Members of the Quinnipiac community dance for 10 hours to raise money and awareness for Connecticut Children’s.
Last year 1,700 dancers raised more than $332,000, bringing the students’ eight-year total to more than one million.
At the end of a long 10 hour day hearing the total amount of money that was raised is a humbling moment for students.
2017’s QTHON event. Photo courtesy of the QTHON Facebook page.
“My proudest moment is to stand in the gym while we, as fellow bobcats, hold hands and the kids cut off our hospital bracelets,” said senior Kerry Golden. “Seeing our total at the end of the night and knowing it will help save these kids, there are truly no words to describe that feeling.”
Not only do the kids look forward to this every year, but so do the students.
“QTHON is something that is much bigger than myself,” said Golden. “It means the absolute world to bring the kids into our gym and out of the hospital.”
Students spend the whole year fundraising for this event and to have it cancelled is leaving many of them disappointed.
“Not having QTHON is heartbreaking,” said Golden. “It is something myself, and other students, look forward to each year. I start fundraising as soon as QTHON ends.”
Students, parents and the kids understand why the decision to cancel was reached.
“I know that it is in the best interest of the kids and their families,” said Golden. “We don’t want to expose each other so we can all be safe.”
Golden is even looking for the hidden message around all of this.
“QTHON is all about fighting,” said Golden. “We dance and raise money so these kids can fight childhood illness. Right now we all have to work together to fight the virus.”
Everyone is hopeful that we will take this heartbreaking news and turn it into something better next year.
“I think not having QTHON this year will really light a fire for next year,” said Golden. “I know that next year we will rise as a community and will always keep dancing for the kids despite the circumstances.”
Hopefully students are ready to light that fire if QTHON goes virtual in April as well as prepare for next year’s dance marathon.