When UNCG students organized their first Dance Marathon fund-raiser in 2001, volunteers did not know the event would raise more than $25,000 for Duke Children’s Hospital over the next four years.

On April 2, UNCG students want to increase that number with another Dance Marathon event. Students and other volunteer participants will be on their feet from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Cone Ballroom of the Elliott University Center.

“We’ve had a great turnout this year,” Jamie DeLong, a junior at UNCG and co-chairperson of Dance Marathon, said. “We already have 41 dancers registered, and we are looking to get as many as 75 or 100 dancers this year.”

Dancers raise a minimum of $75 each to help children with cancer, heart defects, muscular dystrophy, accident trauma and numerous other afflictions. A “Spirit Dancer” sponsorship is available for individuals who would like to contribute to the cause but do not want to take part in the 24-hour event. Volunteers are also selling green bracelets for $2 so others can show their support of the event. The color green symbolizes organ donation and was chosen to represent this year’s Dance Marathon cause.

According to DeLong, two-thirds of the money raised will go to help Anne Blosser, a 23-year-old former UNCG student who has been struggling with a genetic kidney disease since age 5. Blosser’s illness forced her to withdraw from UNCG during the fall semester, but she hopes to return to finish her degree following a kidney transplant operation. The remaining third will go to the Kidney Foundation of North Carolina.

For details, call DeLong at (336) 334-2998 or via e-mail.