Hannah Barnes
@TheBarnesLife
With the first month of the school year in the books, students are dancing their way through the semester. But, it’s not time to put the dancing shoes away quite yet.
This spring, Springfield College plans to host its first-ever Dance Marathon, raising money and awareness for the B+ Foundation.
The B+ Foundation honors the life of Andrew McDonough. Andrew lost his battle with Leukemia, septic shock, and childhood cancer complications at fourteen. After his passing, his community members started a foundation in his honor, calling it the “Be Positive Foundation” or the “B+ Foundation” after not only Andrews’s blood type, but his motto throughout his fight.
The B+ Foundation provides financial and emotional assistance to families of children with cancer throughout the nation.
Springfield College community members revolve around the Humanics philosophy, emphasizing leadership and service to others.
This organization raises money through Dance Marathons, t-shirt drives, and other charitable events. The University of Delaware, University of Alabama, New York University, and other schools across the nation also participate in the B+ Foundation Dance Marathon annually to raise money and awareness.
The newly founded Springfield Dance Marathon fundraising and awareness team is a student-run organization headed by HSOT student Julia McGourty.
“I wanted to create this event for different parts of our community to come together and live our humanics philosophy in support of a cause bigger than ourselves,” McGourty shared.
After further discussing the B+ Foundation with McGourty and why Springfield choose to represent this organization, McGourty shared that after researching multiple foundations, Andrews’ story and the B+ foundation stood out the most.
“Andrews be positive motto was impactful, I felt like I knew Andrew even though I have never met him,” said McGourty. “It seems like he would have embodied the Springfield College Humanics philosophy, and if he came here, he would have fit in so well.”
This organization has been seen outside of the union blasting music, raising awareness for the foundation, and informing students about upcoming events and ways to become involved.
Over the last week, the club has been able to raise 500 dollars in one afternoon with the “Dollar Day Fundraiser,” where students were asked to donate any dollar amount they could.
Last weekend, the organization put together events that revolved around “What is Your Why?” This event included a “WHY” on Admin Green asking students, faculty, and staff to write down why it is important to do this fundraising?
Why is it important to support this foundation and spread the “be positive” message? So far, the Springfield College Dance Marathon has raised 3,000 dollars and supported three families, but is hoping to raise more throughout the semester.
The Dance Marathon was initially planned for November or December. Still, due to COVID, the organization is continually raising money through virtual events and social distance on-campus events with the hope to have a final celebration in the Spring of 2021.
A mini-celebration will be taking place in early December to announce how much money the dance marathon teams have raised so far and the plans for the spring semester.
Despite the uncertainty on campus currently, Mary-Beth Cooper is still prepared to put on her dancing shoes. “I can’t think of a better opportunity for us to come together in spirit, mind and body and dance to raise funds to help others,” she says in a promotional video posted in early July.
Be on the lookout for more fundraising opportunities coming up in mid-October, including a Cornhole Tournament, A-Team vs. Team fundraising showdown, and the apparel sale launching October 18, 100 percent of proceeds from the events will be donated to the foundation.
In the meantime, McGourty asks for athletic teams, clubs, organizations, friend groups to sign up and continue to raise money any way they can for the B+ Foundation.
To get involved with this opportunity, visit the link to sign up and follow @scdancemarathon on IG to follow along.
Photo: SC Dance Marathon