Dexter Students Raise $8,000 for Pediatric Rehabilitation Programs

More than 200 students danced their heart out for three hours at Mill Creek Middle School on Friday to raise $8,020 for pediatric rehabilitation services.

In its eighth year, the school's Dance Marathon fundraiser is put on by Mill Creek teacher Val Berryman's Community Service and Leadership class in conjunction with the University of Michigan.

Dance Marathon is the largest student-run non-profit organization in the state of Michigan, supporting social, emotional, and physical rehabilitation programs for the children and families assisted by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor and Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.

This year's event coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Dexter tornado, which Berryman said was a welcomed coincidence.

"Why wouldn't we want to help others during the anniversary of the tornado?" she asked. "So many people across the state reached out to us last year."

Students who attended the event had to raise at least $25 in pledges and promise to stand for three hours, either by dancing or participating in games at the school.

"We're standing for people who can't stand,"  seventh grader Chloe Cordes said. "It's not too much to ask of us for three hours."

Cordes collected $610 in pledges from friends, family members, and even her mother's coworkers.

"I had to record a message asking for donations that my mom would play to her coworkers," Cordes explained. "I think it's a great cause."

Hannah Cottrell, a representative of U-M's Dance Marathon, said money raised at Mill Creek will pay for programs that health insurance doesn't typically cover, such as taekwando lessons for kids who need help with their balance.

"The money we raise through our marathon and through our partner mini-marathons at local schools is critical to provide funding for programs that benefit children with mental or physical disabilities," Cottrell said.

She said U-M partners with roughly five schools in Washtenaw County, however Mill Creek Middle School has been involved the longest. In seven years, students have raised more than $40,000.

Jasmine Injejikian, executive director of the marathon, is a former member of the Community Service and Leadership class.

"It's great to know that my former school still partners with Dance Marathon," she said. "I see a lot of kids who participate in the fundraiser at Mill Creek go on to be dancers and dance coordinators at the University of Michigan when they are in college."

This is Injejikian’s fourth year participating in Dance Marathon. She began her community service at age seven. She and her mother, Alison Paine, donated their time for homeless families at the Interfaith Hospitality Network for years. She also helped with Gimmee Shelter, the fundraising dinner and auction for Alpha House, and helped with several Habitat for Humanity programs.

“Dance Marathon has given me the opportunity to explore who I am and it has truly defined my college career, all while benefiting a wonderful cause,” Injejikian said. “I stand for the smiles on kids faces. I stand for the children who smile through all their hardships and teach me about humility, grace, and love. I stand for childhood."

Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan event will take place from April 6-7 at the indoor track and field building. The public is invited to attend.

For more information, visit http://dmum.org/.