Loyola’s chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa will hold its first dance marathon to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

The marathon is on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. The cost to register is $12 per person or $100 for a team.

Shea Hermann, vice president, said the planning process has taken a lot of effort.

“The planning is going really well, we’ve been meeting once a week for months, we’ve been partnering with SGA. They are going to help us sponsor it. We have a little more finalizing to do. We wanted to do some philanthropic event,” Hermann said.

Rachel Comeaux, circle president, said the organization wanted to find a way to give back.

“We wanted to do a dance marathon. Loyola has never had one. It’s a national organization. They have one at schools around the country. We thought it would be a really good way to give back to the New Orleans community,” Comeaux said.

Hermann said the Children’s Miracle Network is a worthy cause.

“It’s children with chronic illness. They are going to have to live the rest of their lives with illness, and the parents are constantly having to pay hospital bills for diseases they may never really recover from,” Hermann said.

Comeaux said the night will be full of entertainment.

“We have free food throughout the entire event so it’ll be fun. We just have to try to keep people on their feet the whole night. You don’t have to dance but just stay on your feet the whole night,” Comeaux said.

Hermann also said that the families who will be receiving the benefits will be there.

“We are going to have two miracle families there so two kids who are receiving the direct benefits from the proceeds are going to be at the event so that everyone will see directly what they are contributing to and hopefully we can put a smile on their faces from the turnout,” Hermann said.

Taylor Dietrich, dance marathon manager of the south, said the event is held across the country every year.

“Miracle Network Dance Marathon is a nationwide movement, activating college students at over 300 campuses across the country to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in their community,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich said the event is about more than just dancing all night.

“Miracle Network Dance Marathon is an opportunity for students all across the country to give back to their local community by providing funds and awareness for the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Students have the opportunity to engage with patients and their families from the hospital,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich said the event is not just charitable, but is a fun time.

“Ask any student that has participated in Dance Marathon and many of them will claim it to be their favorite college memory. It definitely is mine,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich said the event raises a lot of money each year.

“There are over 300 Miracle Network Dance Marathons all over the United States and in Canada. Our programs raise anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000,000+ yearly. And to follow with the mission of CMN Hospitals, all of the money stays local to support their community,” Dietrich said.