ANDERSON — High school students flocked to the Millcreek Civic Center in Chesterfield on Friday for what has become a staple: the all-night Dance Marathon Reloaded.
“I’ve been before and I had a blast, so I came again,” said 19-year-old Kara Hammers, who is a senior at Highland High School. “We’ve been waiting on this!”
The Youth Leadership Academy of Madison County has held the 12-hour event for the past four years to raise funds for local nonprofit organizations. Teenagers can dance, and play sports and games from 8 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. today.
“Since we’ve had it three years in a row, people know about it and it’s a way to get kids in the county to come out and have fun,” said 17-year-old Abby Gerhart, a member of the group. “And it’s a fundraiser.”
In years past, the group raised $11,000 to $16,000, that was dispersed to organizations that work with children in Madison County.
Organizations have until March 31 to write a grant asking for funds. The 36 teenagers will read all of the entries on April 18, and decide who will receive the funds, said program director Pam Shoot.
“They make all of the decisions,” Shoot said.
With limited places for Madison County teenagers to blow off steam, the event serves as a yearly outlet, said 15-year-old Briana Cooper, of Highland High School.
“I just love dances, period,” she said. “It’s like you work out all the stresses you’ve had over the past few weeks and months.”
Aside from the dancing and sports, the group lures their peers in with the promise of food throughout the night. The standard nachos, popcorn and hotdogs are available all night. At midnight, pizza is delivered. At 2:30 a.m., sundaes are served. And, at 6:30 a.m., breakfast finishes off their binge.
“While they’re here, they get all the free food and drinks they want all night,” Shoot said.
Shelly Green, a parent of a Frankton High School academy member, said the event is a responsible way for teenagers to have fun.
“It’s something for the kids to do, and it’s a safe environment,” she said. “The hard part is getting the kids to come.”
The civic center remained relatively empty, except for academy members, until about 8:30 p.m., when the students poured into the building.
But, not everyone stays all night, and ticket prices allow for that. Students staying until midnight paid $8; students staying all night paid $12.
Kevin Shettle and Michael McFerran, both 15-year-old students at Alexandria High School, said 12 hours is just too long and they planned only to stay until midnight.
“I don’t think I can find enough stuff to do for 12 hours,” Shettle said.
But, as boys, they appreciated the sports. Both expected to play in the basketball tournament.
“It’s going to bring in more guys because guys don’t really like to dance,” Shettle said.
Contact Christina M. Wright, 640-4883, christina.wright@heraldbulletin.com.
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