100 Day Countdown, 100 Reasons To Be Thankful

This Thanksgiving season, Dance Marathon at FSU has found plenty of reasons to be thankful. With only 100 days left until the Marathon, we set out to list 100 of the infinite reasons we are thankful for DM every day.

Celebrating holidays outside the hospital walls
Giving me a family I did not know I needed
Helping create a better world
Connecting me with other passionate leaders that inspire others daily
Giving me the biggest support system on campus
Getting to collaborate with hundreds of like-minded student leaders across the nation
Getting to connect and create relationships with miracle families
Ability to give back to our local community in the Big Bend area through FSU’s College of Medicine Pediatric Outreach programs
Uncovering a passion for children I didn’t know I had
Introducing me to the most driven students on campus
Helping me decide what I want to spend my future doing — helping children with pediatric illness
Gaining knowledge about different pediatric illnesses
Being able to provide support and love to the miracle families
Allowing me to grow in my leadership skills
Giving me the drive to go the extra mile in life
Reminding me to be kind to everyone because you never know what someone else is going through
Helping create a support system and a community for so many people on our campus
Showing us that family isn’t only in your blood, it is who you surround yourself with
Giving us a deeper connection to the kids and families who need our support the most
Being proof that young people can make a difference
All of the milestone moments that lead to the biggest one
The chance to get to work alongside some awesome leaders and grow as a leader myself
‘Whys’ that are ever-changing
Students who decided to get involved with DM for the first time this year
Students who continue to come back to this cause year after year

Being able to feel the impact of our efforts right in our own backyard
More birthdays
Reminding me the importance of the word ‘Hope’
Having the ability to #DoMore because it is #UpToUs to #BeTheNext miracle-makers
Being a part of the most welcoming community on campus
More laughs
Being Powie and Aubrey’s pony and galloping across the floor of the Civic Center
Realizing what we all are truly capable of
Being a part of something bigger than ourselves
Creating meaningful friendships
Being able to give back to such an amazing cause
Watching incredible miracle makers hit the gong at the marathon
More memories to look back upon
Meeting the miracles families and building a relationship with them
Playing dinosaurs with Caden
Giving me my best friends
A good mom hug from Christina Buth
Working alongside the most dedicated advisors an organization wishes to have
Helping to honor the legacy of Marshal Fisher with Marshal’s Statement
The amount of people on our campus who are willing to make a change and do more
Being able to work with the most passionate and loving individuals
Meeting the greatest people who have become lifelong friends
More birthday candles
The chances it’s given me to grow as a leader and make an impact in my community
Filling my heart with joy
Giving me a purpose on campus
Giving me a way to Do More and see the impact
Giving me an incredible support system
Showing the world that young people can make a difference

Seeing more balloon stickers on hospital equipment
Visits to Shands
Allowing me to make an impact in my community
Introducing me to the toughest children on this planet
The feeling you get when you run through the Morale tunnel
Making us all one big family.
Giving us the opportunity to fight a never ending battle
Marshal’s laugh
Nate’s dance moves
All of the Miracle Families with the strength to share their stories
Giving life more meaning
Teaching me the significance of every breath and moment
Two words: Line. Dance.
A movement that lasts lifetimes
Giving our community a voice
Providing us with fighting chances
All the new friendships that form during that 40 hour event
Showing me that I can do anything, including being on my feet for 20+ hours
Giving me a support system and being the reason I stayed at FSU
High School Dance Marathons giving us some of the fondest memories
Giving us a reason to dance
Giving me life long friends.
Giving us a reason to smile.
Making me realize how lucky I am.
Sharing a common goal with like-minded individuals.
Showing that I am never too young to make a difference
Inspiring the next generation to join the movement so that one day, we dance in celebration
Providing life saving equipment for the many children who walk through the doors of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital
Being able to fund more Child Life Specialists

Showing how $1 truly makes all the difference when saving a life
Connecting with other students from other universities who share one common goal—fighting for the kids!
Sharing our passion for the cause with our local communities by our external events, canning days and share it nights
Bringing more people into our movement through our shared experiences
Giving my life purpose and meaning
Giving me the opportunity to spread the word about pediatric cancer & encouraging donations
My team who supports me as much as we support the kids
Having the opportunity to make a difference
Being united in one organization with students who make me the best version of myself
All the happy tears each reveal brings
Uniting FSU campus under one cause, For The Kids
Always providing for the miracle children and their families

Being a support system for the miracle families in times of hardship
Celebrating good news with the miracle families
Giving families more Thanksgivings together.
Having the opportunity to hit the gong #HTG in honor of Marshal over 3,640 time
Getting the chance to raise $2,152,382.19 For The Kids in 2018

Against all odds and despite adversity, Dance Marathon at FSU remains hopeful and, above all, thankful. This coming holiday season, we seek to revel in the promise of more miracles, more birthdays, and more reasons to give thanks.