Right now more than 800 dancers are at the Steven O' Connell Center all to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospital here in Gainesville.

 

TV 20's Yaremi Farinas met one of Shands miracle child's who is happy to spend the weekend learning this years line dance.

　

 

While it looks like these students are just having some fun, there are many reasons why more than 800 dancers will spend 26.2 hours at the Steven O'Connell Center.

And here is just one.
Ava mason.
She was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma on Christmas eve 2010.

 

"We found out that day that our lives were going to change forever because even once your child is healed your never quite the same."

 

Eddie Mason says that it was a very difficult time for them, traveling from Clermont Florida to Shands to visit Ava.

He says Shands did a wonderful job making sure Ava and her mother got all the attention and help they needed.

That's why this event means so much to the Mason family.

 

"It's the most amazing thing to see so many students come together and raise this sort of money for our kids."

 

In the last 17 years, the Dance Marathon at UF has raised more than $4.5 million for Shands Hospital for Children.

Ava says one her favorite parts of the event is learning the line dance, but she understands why all these dancers have come together.

 

"I feel hopeful and happy that there raising all this money for us, all the kids."

There are many other miracle children at Dance Marathon. Some of them stand on a stage with their families and share their stories with all the dancers.

 

"For my kids they are ready to come to UF and be dancers at Dance Marathon and we hope to someday be parents of dancers instead of parents of a miracle child."

 

Once the event is over, the dancers will find out how much they raised
As for Ava, her family told us she is currently in remission and will continue treatment till next April.

By: Yaremi Farinas