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This past Thursday night the IUDM community came together in Alumni Hall for the third annual Runway Riley. The yearly event debuts new apparel for the upcoming marathon. This event is presented by IUDM's Apparel and Merchandising committee. Riley Children showcase the new apparel by using their best modeling skills and taking the runway in the new apparel that is sold after the event is over. The night started off with a short speech from Miss Riley Lesh, a patient at Riley Children’s Hospital, where she listed the top 10 reasons you should join the IUDM family. One of the reasons being that any kid could help you meet a cute girl or boy you’re too shy to go up to. After Riley finished her speech the much anticipated fashion show began. Riley children started coming out one-by-one accompanied by committee member. Each person wore a piece of IUDM’s new apparel designed for this year’s marathon. As the kids came out on the runway we learned what they each wished for. Their answers ranged from wishing no child would ever have to go through what they went through to wishing it would rain fruit. When the show ended, the doors opened to expose a room filled with the merchandise that had been showcased by the Riley models. Floods of IUDM participants rushed in to get in line to purchase their new IUDM apparel. This year there were two sweatshirts (a blue half-zip and a white full-zip), a long-sleeved t-shirt, a short-sleeved t-shirt, and a tank top. Novelty items such as baseball caps, a Camelback water bottle, and two decal stickers. If you didn’t get a chance to attend Runway for Riley, but still want to purchase IUDM’s new apparel don’t worry, the marathon is only 44 days away and you’ll be able to purchase all of the merchandise shown at this years marathon! Written by Kaitlin Gerringer
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In 1991, Jill Stewart started Indiana University Dance Marathon to commemorate the life of her friend, Ryan White, and his battle with HIV. Stewart met White during his time in Cicero, Ind., and thought of no better way to honor him and carry on his name than to create a fundraiser that raises money for children fighting infectious diseases. Ryan White passed away from an AIDS related illness on April 8th, 1990 and just over one and a half years later, in October 1991, Stewart kicked off what would become the second-largest student organized philanthropy in the nation—IUDM. In its first year, IUDM raised $10,900 and doubled the following year. In 1995, the organization broke the $100,000 mark, raising just over $140,000—a significant increase from the $96,000 raised in the previous year. In 2007, the students and donors of the marathon hit $1 million—a benchmark for the philanthropy. The marathon made history again in 2012, when $2.12 million was raised. Since its inception, IUDM has thrived, raising more than $17 million for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Ind. Riley Hospital is a Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) affiliate. CMN has raised more than $2.2 billion for 170 children’s hospitals in North America. Riley is a nationally ranked hospital and has been recognized year after year for its exceptional care. For its 2013-2014 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” U.S. News & World Report placed Riley Hospital for Children as a top hospital in the country for 10 different departments. This included but is not limited to: pulmonology as 15th, diabetes & endocrinology as ninth and urology as fifth. Live for today, dance for tomorrow is IUDM’s 2013 motto. Each year more than 3,000 students stand on their feet for the duration of the 36-hour marathon and dance for those who cannot. Almost 1,000 committee members work within 17 committees throughout the year leading up to the marathon to raise money, awareness and to create a sense of community. Selfless work, dedication and proactivity are just a few qualities of students, parents, faculty and donors that drive the marathon each fall. In November 2014, IUDM will be carried out for the 24th time at Indiana University and history will surely be made again. If you would like to learn more information about IUDM, please visit www.iudm.org! Written by Kassandra Chronis All last week, IUDM remembered and celebrated the lives of Ryan White and Ashley Louise Crouse. Everything culminated Friday afternoon with the annual “Walk to Remember”, where IUDM committee members joined together for a walk around campus, similar to what was done following Ashley’s untimely death in 2005. It was a picture-perfect day, with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s. Committee members hugged, reunited and took pictures with their own committees and with friends on other committees as they waited for the walk to start. Students could sign posters, writing down what they think of when they thought of Ryan and Ashley. Those posters will be given to the White and Crouse families to show that their legacies live on through IUDM. Before the walk actually began, Chris Holland president of the IUDM Alumni Board, told everyone that one of the things that makes IUDM so special is the community it creates. We were walking to remember Ashley as a member of our family. The walk began in front of the Kappa Kappa Gamma house, where Ashley was a member and very close to where the tragic accident occurred. From Kappa, we walked from Third Street to North Jordan Avenue and continued all the way up Jordan, past all the Greek houses and through the Jordan extension. Once we reached the end of the extension, we took Fee Lane to 10th Street and came down Woodlawn Avenue. We walked around the Indiana Memorial Union and past the Sample Gates before turning down the final stretch of Third Street and returning to the Kappa house. My favorite part about the walk (well, besides the exercise) was reconnecting with old friends and getting to know a few members of my own committee a little bit more. It took about 90 minutes to complete the walk, but with the beautiful weather and members of the IUDM family by my side, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Written By Alyssa Schor
Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM) was established to memorialize the courageous life and story of Ryan White. Ryan was a typical 13-year-old Hoosier when he contracted AIDS through contaminated blood transfusions he received for hemophilia. When news of his diagnosis became public, his school district in Kokomo, Indiana denied him the right to return to classes. The ensuing court battles made headlines across the country and national celebrities like Michael Jackson and Elton John befriended Ryan and advocated on his behalf. Ryan was not just fighting against his school district, but a fearful, misinformed community. Ryan won the right to return to school, but this battle with the community and the disease itself had just begun. The White’s struggled through many traumatic experiences at the hand of the people in their community. The family dealt with the fear and anger of these people on a daily basis hoping that eventually things would return to normal. However, after a bullet was fired into the White home, the family moved to Cicero, Indiana, where they found peace. Throughout his own struggles with the disease and public misconceptions, Ryan spoke out. He combated bigotry with calls for compassion and appeared at schools and fundraisers across the country. He even testified before the President’s Commission on AIDS. After a courageous struggle, Ryan White died on April 8, 1990, the spring before he had planned to attend Indiana University. His fight to help those afflicted with infectious diseases is continued, in part, by the Indiana University Dance Marathon Council. In memory of Ryan’s life and work, the annual Dance Marathon benefits Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and established the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center. Since it's establishment in 1991, IUDM has gone on to become the nations second-largest student run philanthropic organization and raise more then $17 million for the center. Every day hundreds of students continue to fight in honor of this brave young man. Rest in Peace, Ryan. You will forever live in our hearts. |
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