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News Release

Last modified: Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Torch Relay kicks off 16th IU Dance Marathon for Riley Friday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 31, 2006

EDITORS: Indiana University Dance Marathon would like to invite you to the first Torch Relay bike ride from Riley Hospital for Children to IU Bloomington. Once in Bloomington, the riders will participate in the opening ceremonies of the 16th IU Dance Marathon, where 2,000 students will spend the entire weekend celebrating a year of fundraising for Riley. Please see the details below for important times throughout the weekend. The torch relay will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday (Nov. 3), at Riley Hospital for Children, Outpatient Center, 702 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis. The marathon will be at 8 p.m. Friday (Nov. 3) to 8 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 5) at Wildermuth Gymnasium, located across from the Indiana Memorial Union in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 1025 E. 7th St., Bloomington. A check presentation to Riley is scheduled for 8 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 5).

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- More than 2,000 Indiana University students will participate in the 16th Annual IU Dance Marathon this weekend. The weekend will begin Friday, Nov. 3 at 9:30 a.m. in Indianapolis at Riley Hospital for Children with the first Torch Relay.

IU students and Indianapolis residents will take part in the 60-mile bike ride that will honor Ashley Crouse, the 2005 vice president of IU Dance Marathon, who was killed in a tragic car accident in April 2005. Her brother, Charlie Crouse, will lead the pack of cyclists while carrying a torch that will be placed at the marathon as a reminder of Ashley's legacy and dedication to IU Dance Marathon and the children at Riley.

The ride will end at the Wildermuth Gymnasium in Bloomington for the opening ceremonies of the 16th Annual IU Dance Marathon. The 36-hour marathon will begin Friday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. when more than 2,000 IU students will fill the Wildermuth Gymnasium. The marathon will end Sunday, Nov. 5 at 8 a.m. with the check presentation to Riley Hospital for Children. Since it began, the IU Dance Marathon has raised more than $4.1 million for Riley Hospital for Children, which not only built but also continues to support the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center.

IU Dance Marathon has touched the lives of many Riley children families in the last 16 years. The 36-hour marathon was founded in 1991 by former IU student Jill Stewart to honor her close friend Ryan White, an AIDS activist and Riley patient. Stewart created IU Dance Marathon to commemorate White's life, and to raise money for the only hospital that he wanted to go to during his illness.

Throughout the marathon, several Riley families and special guests will address the dancers with words of inspiration and praise. Special guests will be Dr. Martin B. Kleiman, White's doctor, and White's mother Jeanne White. Additional speakers will be IU President Adam Herbert; IU Dean of Students, Richard McKaig; CEO of Riley Children's Foundation, Kevin O'Keefe; and IU Chancellor Ken Gross Louis. Former Riley patients and families, as well as Dance Marathon alums, come back year after year to take part in this memorable weekend.

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