A group of University students are asking their peers to join them in raising money for children with illnesses by standing and dancing for 26.2 hours. 
Dance Marathon is a fundraising event involving several universities across the nation that raises money for the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital in their community, and will take place from Feb. 21-22. All the money raised from LSU’s Dance Marathon will be donated to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.
Dance Marathon has gained popularity at many other Southeastern Conference schools, such as the University of Alabama, Univeristy of Georgia and Univeristy of Mississippi, and is now at LSU. 
“We brought Dance Marathon to LSU to celebrate the lives of children treated by Our Lady of the Lake and to celebrate our students,” said Melanie McKoin, executive director of Dance Marathon at LSU.
At the marathon, teams of at least five students will commit to standing and dancing for 26.2 hours. At the top of every hour, each team will perform a morale dance, choreographed by a morale captain. Between dances, a child and his or her family will tell their story. 
The event will include live entertainment, which might range from a local artist to dance teams on campus.
During the last hour — “power hour” — all dance teams will participate in a rave-like dance party until the total money raised is displayed at the end of the 26.2 hours.
As with all Dance Marathons, the set time of 26.2 hours is to mimic the number of miles run in a typical marathon. Participants must stand for the whole marathon. 
“[The children we’re raising funds for] don’t have the chance to stand,” McKoin said. “We, as healthy college students, have the chance to stand. We are hoping that concept will be motivation. You won’t want to sit.”
McKoin said anyone can participate in Dance Marathon, as long as they are a University student.
 Gabby Murphy, director of recruitment for LSU’s event, said more students need to register so LSU’s Dance Marathon will be on track to reach a reasonable goal.
“We do not have a definite set goal, but we want to raise as much as possible,” McKoin said.
Fundraisers will be held until the marathon on Feb. 21 to raise money and gain sponsorships from corporations and businesses in Baton Rouge.