University of Maryland Terp Thon Breaks Records to Help Kids

It was a special weekend at the University of Maryland -- and not just because of the men's basketball team's win over rival University of Virginia in the team's final ACC regular season game on Sunday. What was even more impressive was Saturday's dance marathon, known as Terp Thon, which raised an amazing $429,012.89 to support children and families at Children's National. More than 1,000 students participated in Terp Thon, each raising at least $100 for Children’s National just to earn their invitation to the event, and 71 students event raised $1,000 or more! Participants stayed on their feet from noon to midnight without a break, an act to symbolize the challenges patients endure when battling life-threatening illnesses and injuries. As they say in the dance marathon world, “they stand for those who can’t.” By increasing their 2013 fundraising total by 40 percent, the students made Terp Thon a top 10 dance marathon among the 350+ events across North America that raise funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Since its first year in 2010, Terp Thon has now raised more than $1 million (with $1.2 million raised). Terp Thon also broke the record for a program in its fifth year -- a record that had stood for 15 years since the University of Iowa's Dance Marathon raised $354,065 in 1999. Tracy Flack, who helped organize the event for Children's National, gave all the credit to the students. "I am so thrilled and so proud of what we accomplished, and honored to work with these incredibly passionate students. Terp Thon continues to grow, and the students can take pride in knowing they've created one of the most successful and fastest growing dance marathons in the country." See photos. Read "Inside TerpThon's Biggest Year," from the University of Maryland Diamondback.