Annual event requires help from moralers
By: Sergio
Tovar, Staff Writer
Twenty-four
hours of dancing is easier said than done, so Dance Marathon organizers are
recruiting students to help motivate their participants.
Organizers for Dance Marathon, an annual student fundraiser for the N.C.
Children's Hospital, will be recruiting throughout the week for moralers.
"Moralers make sure dancers don't sit down. …
They're kind of like fresh air to the dancers who may be tired and want to sit
down," said Anna Lassiter, Dance Marathon's morale committee chairwoman.
Students who sign up to be a moraler work one of four
six-hour shifts and must commit to raise $24 to participate in the event,
representing the number of hours dancers must remain on their feet.
Lassiter, a moraler last year, said she would
recommend the job because it is fun and helps bring students closer to the
outside community.
"It is important to show that we are connected to members of the community
and do our civic duty," she said.
Lassiter added that Dance Marathon allows participants to meet new people and
raise money for a good cause at the same time.
Erica Newman, overall coordinator for Dance Marathon, said being a moraler is a great way to get involved in the event if
students missed the dancer sign-up deadline or if they could not devote 24
hours to the event.
"This is a great way to see the marathon … to see all the excitement if
you were not able to sign up to be a dancer," Newman said.
Every shift will have a different theme, during which the moralers
will dress up. The themes for this year's event will be kept under wraps until
about a week before the event.
Lassiter said that in previous years, moralers have
shaved their heads, roller-skated around the gym and worn spandex outfits to
keep the dancers in an uplifted state.
Organizers will hold activities today through Friday to inform students about
the moraler position and how to volunteer for the
event.
Lassiter said organizers are looking for 160 to 180 moralers
this year. More than 800 dancers already signed up to participate, Newman said.
About 800 participants raised more than $200,000 last year, meeting the $1
million mark since the marathon's start nine years ago.
The large number of dancers, along with more than 200 moralers
and nearly 300 volunteers made Dance Marathon the largest student volunteer
organization on campus last year.
Newman said organizers do not have a monetary goal for this year.
"We just want to increase our funding and continue to make a difference
for the Children's Hospital," she said.
This year's event will start at
Sergio Tovar, “Annual event requires help from moralers,” The Daily Tarheel, January 22, 2007.