Today, one seldom hears more about good deeds than wicked doings. With a polarized political landscape, everyday violent crime, and several slanted media outlets, the search for truth and goodness can seem overwhelmingly difficult.

 

But look no further than a humble student organization based at a cream and crimson institution in Bloomington, Indiana.

 

Indiana University Dance Marathon, or IUDM for short, is the second largest student run philanthropy in the world. It has raised over $56 million for Riley Hospital for Children in its 33-year existence. The fundraiser puts many events together throughout the year, culminating in a 36-hour dance marathon in the IU Tennis Center that reveals the total amount of money raised at the end. In addition to its life-saving mission, the organization also prides itself on welcoming and including any and every individual that wants to join.

 

“There’s an incredible strength in numbers,” Fundraising Chair on Hospital Relations, Ella Self said. “We all have completely different backgrounds, we’re all studying different things, we’re all here for different reasons, but we’re all doing it for the kids at Riley and their families.”

 

IUDM has given many individuals lifetime friends and a place to call home.

 

“They’re truly the most genuine people and have absolutely transformed my college experience,” IU Senior and Director of Corporate Relations, Maddie Miklovic said. “Having those deep connections and friendships and long lasting relationships really carried through beyond college and that’s what makes IUDM so special.”

 

IUDM is special in the way it brings good people together for a good cause. And the results of hundreds of different individuals working together for a common purpose are magical. The organization saves lives, but it also saves dreams. And for Braden Tamosaitis and Olivia Pierce, two former Riley Kids, that means everything.

“Last year I was praying to Pam Whitten and all the other admissions people to let me in, but now I’m here,” IU Freshman Olivia Pierce said. “You might see me on IUSTV, I’m a Sports Media major, I might be covering your awesome Indiana Football!”

 

Pierce was born with bilateral retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer that affects both eyes in children under the age of six. She lost her left eye to cancer, but wears a prosthetic replacement. Pierce also had six tumors in her right eye, however because of IUDM that number is down to two.

 

“Without this (IUDM) I would not even be alive actually,” Pierce said. “I was not supposed to make it to my first birthday let alone 18 and be in college!”

 

The feeling is mutual for Braden Tamosaitis.

 

“This is important to me because Riley Hospital actually saved my life,” former Riley Kid, Tamosaitis said. “Seeing people give back to a hospital that saved my life that is amazing, that is very inspirational.”

 

And much like Pierce, Tamosaitis is also pursuing a career in sports.

 

“I actually have a goal of being a sports broadcaster,” Tamosaitis said. “I was a sports broadcaster for three years with my high school…my goal is to one day work either at a news station or go back to my high school and work with them.”

Whatever career path Pierce and Tamosaitis decide to follow, their stories serve as a beautiful example of inspiration, hope, light, and goodness to the entire world.

 

“Disability doesn’t mean inability,” Pierce’s mother, Shannon Pierce said. “Because I’m telling you what you tell these kids they can’t and they’re gonna show you they can. There’s no stopping these kids.”

 

These good moments, and many other just like it, make the wicked ways of the world that seem impossible to overcome a lot less overpowering. It’s also a reminder to everyone that no matter how difficult life gets, if Pierce and Tamosaitis can do it, anyone can do it.