For the Kids: Attending Arcadia’s Annual Dance All Night
In the weeks leading up to spring break, you might have seen a lot of bake sales happening by the tables at the Chat (and I mean a LOT – the dedication of our FTK chapter is unmatched). You may have also seen fliers and advertisements all around for Arcadia’s “Dance All Night.” The annual event, which goes until midnight, is run by Arcadia’s For the Kids (FTK) organization, a student-run fundraising effort for Four Diamond Fund, which aims to support children with cancer.
You might be asking: what exactly is “Dance All Night?” The phrasing itself is pretty explanatory; by donating ten dollars to FTK, students can go to the event, where the purpose is, well, to dance all night. For those who might not want to dance, however, there are other activities in which to partake. In all three years I have been on Arcadia’s campus, I have heard many things about, but never attended, an FTK Dance All Night. So, I decided to go with a few friends and see what all the talk was about.
The event took place in the Great Room. At the entrance, some of the organization’s members were taking donations. By paying for entry, each attendee was also given multiple raffle tickets for some incredible baskets. One of the baskets had Arcadia swag, but a lot of outside shops and companies were also represented in the raffle options. Outside the event was also a collection of food (including pizza, soft pretzels, and Humpty’s Dumplings – who could say no!) and drinks.
Inside the Great Room, however, is where the fun began. Multiple games were set up at the back – giant Connect Four, a hockey table, Just Dance, and giant Jenga were just a few of the activities. My friends and I gravitated towards these games, while at the front of the room, a yoga instructor was directing a lesson. One of the most fun parts of the night was the intense cup pong (with water cups) that occurred between four of our friends. I even joined one game – although, my aim could use a lot of work.
After playing around in the back for a bit, a few of us left to go to the front and play giant Twister. I stayed behind to play some Connect Four, but by the time the game was over, music chairs was being set up.
If you know me, you may know that I tend to be competitive when it comes to games. I immediately was drawn to the front of the room, where musical chairs was being set up. The game was a ton of fun; I was next to one of my friends (who ended up winning!) the entire time, which made it even more exciting. Sadly, I didn’t win, but I did come in third place, which I think is pretty good.
By the time I left, it was around 10:30 p.m. There was still an hour and a half of fun that I didn’t experience, but I was awe-struck by the dedication of the club to set up, stay all five hours, be full of energy, and then clean up the Great Room come midnight. The amount of passion, care, and intent that goes into planning this event and making a change for children affected by cancer is inspiring. With ten dollars and a few small donations to the various bake sales, I was able to contribute to the furthering of cancer research and patient/family support, while enjoying a night of activities that helped to further raise awareness. Although I am graduating this semester, I hope for ArcadiaFTK to find the same success in the years to come.
