Olivia WallaceIn this file image, learners take to the phase in the Baker College Middle Ballroom to dance throughout the 2015 BobcaThon party.
When Dr. David Nguyen’s initial son, Ernie, was born he experienced to be transported to the Nationwide Children’s Medical center in Columbus. Following calling inns in research of a nearby put to stay, Nguyen was referred to the Ronald McDonald Property across the avenue from the hospital.
Keeping at the Ronald McDonald House, Nguyen’s household did not have to fear about finding a bed, shower or meals. All was furnished for them at no cost. They stayed for about 7 to 10 days and have returned on occasion even though Ernie has received even more health care treatment.
“My involvement with BobcaThon is purely particular,” Nguyen mentioned. “For me and my relatives at that time, the Ronald McDonald Home was there.”
Nguyen, an assistant professor in the counseling and higher instruction section of the Patton University of Training, is now the college adviser for Ohio University’s BobcaThon.
Founded in 2014, BobcaThon is an once-a-year volunteer celebration in which individuals pledge to dance for 12 consecutive hrs to fundraise for the Ronald McDonald Home Charities of Central Ohio in Columbus.
The two co-directors of BobcaThon, seniors Jackie Rothney and Rhianna Lucas, are passionate about the bring about that the group stands for. They have each been collaborating in the event every 12 months of their school occupations.
“I am in nursing faculty, and these little ones and families will be the immediate people today that I will be having treatment of when I graduate. My coronary heart breaks that these people are presented the playing cards they have, and being in their corner is a person of the least complicated matters I could do. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to continue to be near, provides a home-cooked food and a local community that understands them. I want to do all I can to be able to permit the RMH to help families although their child is in and out of the healthcare facility,” Rothney claimed.
Eliza Zulch, the existing president of the BobcaThon group, is also drawn to supporting the organization’s mission.
“For me, it’s generally just been about the families, and furnishing for the people who are in a definitely tricky scenario and just helping them out a minor more,” Zulch mentioned.
The 12-hour dance marathon hosted by Ohio University’s BobcaThon looks very distinctive this yr, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In reaction to social distancing mandates, the event’s management group experienced to brainstorm a new way for users to participate in the event.
“We have just experienced to adapt and continue to keep our vision on elevating dollars for the Ronald McDonald Residence of Central Ohio in any way we could,” Rothney mentioned.
Because a dance marathon is not feasible for latest instances, BobcaThon members have prepared a 12K (7.5 miles) that members can entire on their individual. The 12K marathon, which will be held on March 20 and 21, can be walked, biked, ran or swam.
“Through it all, Jackie and I and our management staff saved a good mindset and devoted our time to producing the ideal (COVID-welcoming) party attainable. We decided to do a 12K mainly because, like Jackie pointed out, we are hoping to demonstrate our members what the youngsters at the Ronald McDonald Property are experience just about every working day when they struggle their struggle,” Lucas said.
A exceptional part of the function will be the BobcaThon 2021 podcast. The podcast will attribute encouraging tracks and families’ tales from the Ronald McDonald Property to enable encourage college students as they entire the 12K.
Zulch strategies to complete the marathon with her fellow BobcaThon roommates.
“It’s a definitely superior way to get persons to get out and physical exercise,” Zulch claimed. “I strategy on hanging out with my roommates, who are also in BobcaThon, heading down to the bike path, going for walks it and just appreciating Athens. For me, considering the fact that it’s my final BobcaThon, I plan to genuinely just take in Athens and soak in all that it has supplied us this earlier calendar year.”
On March 21, the group will gather practically at 4 p.m. and will reveal the total total elevated by using a dwell stream on YouTube. A person hundred p.c of the cash lifted by BobcaThon are donated to the Ronald McDonald Property Charities of Central Ohio.
The group is nevertheless operating difficult to increase cash for the lead to it supports. Users need to gain up to a bare minimum of $137 lifted separately to symbolize the 137 rooms in the Ronald McDonald Residence to household families when their kid is receiving treatment method. Members fundraise by means of social media, sending fundraising letters, contacting enterprises and other methods.
Pupils use the Just Providing platform to observe and rank how substantially they have fundraised. Distinctive campus organizations can also build their very own teams to increase income under. BobcaThon has a management staff and a morale workforce to arrange contributors.
In addition, BobcaThon volunteers have ongoing to journey to the Ronald McDonald Household and prepare meals for family members keeping in the residence.
Area Athens enterprises enable sponsor the celebration. The firm has partnered with Fry’d, Texas Roadhouse and Chipotle to host fundraisers that contribute to their all round fundraising. Fry’d has also donated various reward playing cards to the bring about for giveaways. Other local organization that have donated prizes to the BobcaThon group consist of Large Mamma’s, UniversiTees, Columbus Managing Co. and Whit’s.
For data about the BobcaThon and how you can assistance, visit: https://www.bobcathon.org.