The organizers of DemonTHON, a 24-hour DePaul dance marathon held April 21 and 22, accepted an award for best new dance marathon at the National Dance Marathon Leadership Conference on July 15.

DePaul’s DemonTHON, held in the Sullivan Athletic Center, raised $103,000 to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network – the largest first-year total in history for any college dance marathon.

 “This award is just an example of how hard work pays off,” says Bill Mattera, staff advisor for the event. “Our students planned it for over a year. I think when the winner was announced it took a moment to sink in and for them to believe that they had won. Just being in the room with all of the major programs and being recognized was exciting.”

Mattera took a group of nine students to Atlanta to attend the conference; some from last year’s planning group and some planning for the upcoming school year.

“Next year’s group definitely feels like they have a legacy to carry on,” Mattera says.