The Fishers High School Dance Marathon has won the Children’s Miracle Network national award for Best High School Dance Marathon.
The school’s annual event has been one of the most successful high school marathons in the state of Indiana, raising $600,000 since 2008 for Riley Hospital for Children. Even as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Fishers Dance Marathon was able to have a six-figure total while having an online marathon.
Fishers Dance Marathon was able to demonstrate remarkable success in online fundraising leading into the marathon. In 2020, Fishers raised $6,174.57 in the two weeks leading into the marathon. Despite fundraising challenges over the past two years, Fishers was able to top 2020, raising $21,775.05 in the two weeks leading into the marathon.
Previously, Fishers had a pageant with gentlemen from the school to crown one Mr. DM. To move towards the inclusion of all people at Fishers, this tradition was opened to any student, allowing for a more diverse group of individuals to show off their passion for children’s health. The Fishers Dance Marathon leadership worked to make the contest have a wider reach through social media. Each contestant had an Instagram page where they would receive points for followers, engagement on posts, and promoting the marathon. To end the contest, all the contestants participated in a lip-syncing competition at the event. At the end of the night, two individuals were crowned as Fishers Dance Marathon Royalty.
About Riley Children’s Foundation
Riley Children’s Foundation is the fundraising arm of Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health and the founding organization that opened Riley Hospital in 1924. Today, Riley Hospital is recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation and is the only comprehensive children’s research hospital in the state of Indiana. For more information, visit Rileykids.org and follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RileyKids.