The 16th University of Iowa Dance marathon weekend, and our family's 8th Dance Marathon, is upon us. Sigh. On the upside, this is an incredible fundraising machine. There is the event itself, which is a twenty-four hour extravaganza of college students, childhood cancer survivors, and their families, all trying to put their best foot forward in the fight against something awful. Almost better than that is the group of college kids who do service projects at the Iowa Children's Hospital throughout the year, all in the name of Dance marathon, which provides what money has trouble buying, which is enthusiastic youth for the inpatient unit. Ethan was hospitalized at Boston Children's Hospital a couple years ago for neurosurgery to remove a radiation-related problem, and he commented on how much more poorly equipped the pediatirc unit was in every way compared to the amenities at the Iowa Children's Hospital. His hypothesis was that this was a public institution whereas the Iowa Children's Hospital was a private one--actually, the opposite is true, and in great part, the luxury he noticed and benefited from was provided by Dance Marathon dollars and volunteerism.
The sadness stems from the very fact that we are a Dance Marathon family. That we have a dog in the fight against childhood cancer. Luckily, the sadness I have around this event is not shared by my family. Not at all. They commune with their fellow childhood cancer survivor and their sibling friends, Best Buy provides an incredible game room, local food puurveyors provide snacks and meals, and it is an all out party for them. It is also a chance to commune with those who know what life threatening illness can do to a family, and celebrate that what they have at the end of it all. Not all bad. There is a little good as well.
This year, I have a dancer! Abe is dancing, and will be the first Kline boy to do so. He has done an excellent fund raising job, and is still accepting support, should you be so moved: http://www.kidsmiracles.org/abekline
Go Abe!
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