RockeTHON raises more than $150,000, sets new record

April 18, 2017 | Events, News, UToday
By Madison Vasko



At this year’s RockeTHON, after 13 hours of dancing and interacting with “miracle families,” more than 1,200 UT students gathered in anticipation around the Savage Arena stage.

Members of the RockeTHON team, each holding a sign, raised them one by one to reveal that $153,707.09 had been raised “for the kids.”

More than 1,200 students got into the groove at RockeTHON and raised more than $153,000 for Mercy Children’s Hospital.

This denotes the largest amount raised by UT’s dance marathon in its 16 years held on campus — and more than $1 million during that time.

RockeTHON, which benefits Mercy Children’s Hospital, has become the largest student-run philanthropy event at The University of Toledo.

Students often remark that a highlight of the event is hearing the stories of the lives that are changed as a result of the treatments that their donations help fund.

“April 8, 2017, will forever be one the best days of my life,” Julianne Putano, overall director of RockeTHON said. “It was a day full of laughter, joy and, most importantly, miracles. Not only did the Toledo community come together to raise over $153,000 to create more miracles for the kids of Mercy Children’s Hospital, but we created an unforgettable experience for the Miracle Children we were lucky enough to have at our event. For them, RockeTHON is one day out of the year where they don’t have to worry about their next treatment or hospital visit; they can just be a kid. That is why we do what we do.”

“[RockeTHON] is a day I’ll never forget,” said Cassidy Turner, a morale captain of dance marathon. “The atmosphere is just overall fun and energy is high. We had 25 families come see us, and we got to meet so many miracle kids. It’s nice to see them and know we’re making a difference.”

To keep up to date with RockeTHON and fundraisers happening throughout the year, follow @UTRockeTHON.

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