The Marathon
Imagine running with hundreds of other students under the "Go Blue" banner to take on a challenge that will be exciting, fun, and inspirational. The Dance Marathon features these students standing valiantly for 30 hours to symbolize the difficulties that the UMDM children cope with everyday. However, these 30 hours are so much more than standing. These 30 hours feature DJs, cultural shows, local performers, games, food, crafts, and dancing that combines into one giant party. However, the real stars of the show are our families and children, who take the stage to share their inspirational stories, cheer on the teams, and do a little dancing along with our dancers.
Spirit
The Spirit Competition
Within the Spirit Competition there are 3 different races: The Journey, The Relay, and The Sprint. Each element has different rules and different prizes! The Spirit Competition is a way to bond with your team and of course WIN: get competitive and do it. And don't forget to bust out those "Spirit Fingers" while you're at it.
Current Spirit Journey Leaders as of 11/24/2008
1. Team D
2. Team PP
3. Team KK
4. Team NN
5. Team AA
Throughout the year, you will have numerous opportunities to receive spirit points for your team. The points will be counted throughout the year to see what team is the most spirited. The top three teams at the end of the Spirit Journey will be announced at the Pep Rally before the Marathon, and the number one team will get a super-sweet marathon care package!
So how exactly can you earn spirit points for the Journey? Family Events – 30 points/person present
- This includes not only the family events put on by UMDM (Pumpkin Carving, Education Symposium, PJ Party, Winter Family Event, and Charity Ball), but also if your team meets up with your family outside of organized events or anyone volunteers for a therapy we sponsor. Just let your MC know the names of people that attended these outside events.
BONUS: At each organized event, you will find out other ways to get spirit points for your participation while there!
Social Events – 5 points/person present
Any event that UMDM puts on purely to have a good time and raise some more money while also allowing your team to bond. This includes bar nights, karaoke nights, skate nights, preselected sports events, Live! Michigan, and more!
Fundraising – points vary
By the end of December, any dancer with $100 in their dancer account will get 20 spirit points, with $200 will get 20 spirit points, and with $300 will get 60 spirit points!
As the year goes on, we will be sure to let you know about more opportunities for spirit points, so keep your ears open and stay involved!
At certain UMDM-sponsored events this year, teams will have the opportunity to compete for our brand-new SPIRIT STICK!! The team receiving the most points at the individual event will get to take the spirit stick home, decorate it to leave their permanent mark, and bring it to the next event, where this competition starts over and everyone has a fair chance to win it every time! At events where the spirit stick is not up for grabs, bring it anyways to flaunt how much spirit your team has. Here is a list of events where your team will have the opportunity to get a piece of the SPIRIT STICK!
1. Pumpkin Carving - Team W took it home!
2. PJ Party
3. Skate Night
4. Winter Event
5. Charity Ball
6. Bucket Blowout #3
7. Ultimate Winner
8. One Mystery Event
AT THE MARATHON – Each team gets a completely fresh start, and it is a 30 hour race for the coveted SPIRIT CUP! As the marathon gets closer, and at the marathon itself, you will find out exactly how spirit points will be allocated for the Sprint. Get Excited!!
