Students participating in last year’s RamTHON are pictured playing a “Minute-to-Win-It” game with Rammy, WCU’s mascot.
WEST CHESTER — RamTHON, a no-sitting dance party organized to raise $30,000+ for the children at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), will officially start the season-of-giving at West Chester University on Saturday, November 4, 1-7 p.m., in Sykes Student Union, 110 West Rosedale Avenue, West Chester. Promising a ramtastic time for all during every single hour, RamTHON will feature lots of line-dancing, zany party games, musical/dance performances, Zumba workouts, free custom t-shirts, delicious food donated on-the-hour every hour by area vendors, traveling boutiques, and much more. Making a special appearance to share their impactful stories will be four CHOP Miracle Network children and their families. RamTHON is open to the general public free of charge following advance pre-registration from now through Friday, November 3, at https://www.wcupa.edu/RamTHON. RamTHON walk-ins on Saturday, November 4, will be charged a $10 entry-fee. Hospital bands will be given to all RamTHON attendees upon entry. All proceeds will go to CHOP’s Child Life Department.
In addition to learning a line-dance every hour, RamTHON attendees can expect to play “Minute-to-Win-It” games that will yield lots of donated gift cards from local businesses as well as trophy keepsakes. Some of the “Minute-to-Win-It” games featured will include The Cheese Ball Toss, played while wearing a shower cap covered with shaving cream; The Sticky-Note Challenge, where teams will compete to stick the most notes on their partners; The Scholar Spelling Bee, where spelling some of the hardest words in the dictionary will be attempted; Team Trivia challenging rounds; and more.
Constant motion, movement and “miracle” celebrations will take place throughout the dance party. The no sitting requirement is intended to remind all participants that nothing compares to the discomfort experienced by children who are being treated in the hospital.
The following times are not to be missed during RamTHON!
- 1 p.m. — RamTHON Official Dance Party Kick-off Ceremony
- 3 p.m. — Family Hour: Miracle Network Families Share Their Experiences With Cancer
- 6:30 p.m. — Tea-Light Circle of Hope Ceremony: All Hospital Bracelets Will Be Cut-Off
- 6:45 p.m. — RamTHON Total Amount Raised Will Be Announced, Displayed & Celebrated
In its third successful year, RamTHON has been organized by West Chester University Dance Marathon, a nonprofit student-run organization on campus that was founded in 2020 by students who welcomed supporting the children of CHOP. The sole purpose of the student organization is to fundraise throughout the year to help children who are sick and receiving treatment at CHOP.
“We are expecting more than 500 students and members of the community to attend RamTHON this year in an effort to help us fight for the amazing children at CHOP,” said Sammi Rudner, a West Chester University junior and early grades preparation major who is now leading RamTHON as the executive director of Dance Marathon. “Being able to dance with our miracle children brings me and our incredible executive board the greatest joy. So many have brought us to this moment — students, donors, family, friends, participating businesses and organizations. Coming together to support this amazing cause makes our children at CHOP stronger; they know we are rooting for them all the way.”
In 2021, West Chester University Dance Marathon raised more than $21,000 to support CHOP. In 2022, with the help of Rudner who served as event operations chair, RamTHON raised even more — $30,273. Rudner credits the success of RamTHON to the involvement and commitment of many.
“Dance Marathon is a movement involving 250,000 students from 400 colleges across the nation supporting and raising money for the sick and injured children treated at local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” Rudner shared. “Each year our student executive board chooses where the funds will go at CHOP; 100% of what is raised at RamTHON goes directly to that department. This year, RamTHON 2023 is donating to the Child Life Department and we are hopeful that the funds raised will make a difference in the lives of many, many children.”
For additional information about RamTHON, including the names of its many local sponsors and partners, please see https://www.wcupa.edu/RamTHON.
