Knight-Thon dances way to $84K

Many students wiped away tears after 3-year-old J.P. Lugo, a boy who was told by doctors that he may never walk, dashed onto the stage and declared his love for the large crowd.

Lugo and his family were visiting UCF from Children's Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for more than 170 childrens' hospitals worldwide, to tell their story at the Knight-Thon dance marathon held on Saturday in the Venue.

Knight-Thon is UCF's largest student-run philanthropy and was celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. More than 300 students gathered in the Venue to participate in the annual 15-hour dance marathon that took place from noon until 3 a.m.

UCF managed to surpass its $80,000 goal and ultimately raised $84,640, every penny of which will be donated to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

There was never a lack of entertainment, as new and exciting surprises popped up every hour. Giant inflatables, arcade-style gaming and a caricature artist were just a few of the treats awaiting participants.

The UCF Computer Store also provided an iMac for Internet browsing and two Xbox 360 Kinect consoles for students to test their dance skills against the motion-controlled system.

A popular activity throughout the event was the two long tables littered with feathers, glitter and various craft items that were set up in the arena for students to exercise their creativity. Many individuals used their crafts to fill the gift bags of their teammates that lined one of the walls of the arena.

There was no shortage of delicious food during the event. Sponsors like Panda Express, IHOP, Mellow Mushroom, Glass Slipper Cakery, Valdiano's Pizza, Smoothie King and BRIO Tuscan Grille all donated food and drinks for participants.

More donations came in the form of raffle items. Students could pay $1 for a ticket to win prizes like AirTran round-trip tickets, Orlando Magic tickets, gift cards and more.

Every hour, on the hour, a loud siren would wail throughout the arena and students would gather in rows to perform a "morale dance." The seven-minute long dance routine was choreographed to popular music by Wiz Khalifa, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga's appropriately-titled song, "Just Dance."

The morale dance seemed to be the overall favorite activity by Knight-Thon participants.

"I love the morale dance, just on the hour, because it gets everyone's spirits up," said Rachel Brill, sophomore interdisciplinary studies major and team leader for the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

"But just listening to the Children's Miracle stories is really great. I would say that's my favorite part."

Knight-Thon brought in six families from Children's Miracle Network to tell their stories to the crowd of students and thank them for all of their efforts.

"I know that your parents are not here, but they should be very proud of you," said Norma Lugo, J.P.'s mother. "I'm a UCF mom and every time I see kids and people that are giving their hundred percent helping others, it brings us a lot of hope. Not only for me, but all the Miracle families. That we always live with hope, day by day."

Executive board members of the Florida State University and University of Florida dance marathons came down to visit UCF for the first time to show their support for Knight-Thon's efforts.

Brianna Rubino, a senior hospitality major and internal director for FSU's dance marathon, was very excited to visit UCF.

"It's cool to see a different venue and how it works and the different structures that they use and different ways to compare and improve our event as well," Rubino said.

FSU held its 40-hour dance marathon two weeks ago and raised $486,927 for Children's Miracle Network.

Since its inception in 1983, Children's Miracle Network has raised more than $3.4 billion worldwide.

Neonatologist Richard Bucciarelli, a doctor who specializes in premature infants, drove down from Shands Children's Hospital in Gainesville to express his gratitude to the students of UCF.

"When we buy equipment with money from Children's Miracle Network, we put a little yellow sticker on it. I was standing there [in the nursery] and I looked in all directions and I couldn't look anywhere where I didn't see that sticker that said ‘purchased with Children's Miracle Network.' That's how important it is to us," Bucciarelli said. "I want to thank you so much. You all own a little piece of that."