ZUMBATHON raises money for St. Jude
Jason Johnston
Friday, February 3, 2012
Seventy-five people were having fun dancing the Zumba at Rollers Thursday evening while also helping to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“We just raise money for St. Jude every year,” said Jaymie Hardtarfer, the director of the Emporia State University chapter of Up ‘til Dawn. “We do different fundraisers. This is one of the fundraisers that we wanted to do. It’s something fun for everyone. And it is a great way to get donations and have a great time at the same time.”
She said the event raised $530 for St. Jude. Zumba is a mixture of aerobics and dancing.
Hardtarfer said Kelly Maxfield, the owner of Rollers, let Up ‘til Dawn use his skating rink for the fundraiser. Rollers has Zumba classes every week.
Maxfield said Up ‘til Dawn was looking for a larger place than the previous year to hold its fundraiser.
“It’s always good to give back to the community,” he said. “... In the first five minutes, they raised $100 ... people have been generous. It’s gone well.”
Hardtarfer said last year’s event was held at Emporia Fitness, and it raised between $250 to $300.
Amy Hayden, who teaches the Zumba classes at Rollers, said she offered her services to Up ‘til Dawn for the fourth year in a row. She also has classes at Emporia Fitness and teaches a Zumba course at ESU.
She said she was asked to do some Zumba at an Up ‘til Dawn event four years ago that lasted all night. She helped the event participants stay awake.
“I did that again the second year, and then last year they decided they wanted to make it part of their fundraiser,” Hayden said. “So it has gradually grown. It went from like maybe 10 people doing it with me to like 75 tonight.”
People do not have to be trained dancers to do Zumba, she said.
“And really, reaching all these people and making them feel comfortable yet they are having this fun, great time,” Hayden said. “They are not looking at the clock, and they are getting a workout all at the same time.”
Hardtarfer said Hayden suggested doing a black light Zumba for the fundraiser.
“Amy is always pumped up about her classes, so she is the perfect one to teach it,” she said. “Yeah, everyone is having a great time and even if they don’t know what they are doing, it’s fine.”
Hardtarfer said she is a senior at ESU and has been with Up ‘til Dawn since her freshman year. She has visited the main St. Jude Hospital in Memphis twice during its annual Up ‘til Dawn leadership conferences.
“I definitely see where the money is going,” she said. “The families are so thankful.”
Hardtarfer said Up ‘til Dawn has a letter-sending party in the fall, which is its largest St. Jude fundraiser. Members and ESU students request donations by sending letters to friends, family and co-workers.
“So at those, we do ask patient families to come speak,” she said. “So, we heard great stories about how their kids were affected, whether or not their kid is stilling living. ... We get to hear both sides in how the hospital helped them and where the money is going to.”
St. Jude treats children regardless of their ability to pay, Hardtarfer said.
“So if their insurance doesn’t cover it, and their families can’t cover it, (St. Jude) won’t turn the kid away, which is real awesome,” she said.