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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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