Iowa City, IA- Dancers dance at Dance Marathon 18 during power hour in the IMU Main Lounge on Saturday, February 4, 2011. (The Daily Iowan/ Ricky Bahner)

Twenty-four hours ago, a lime green sea of dancers sat on the floor of the IMU beginning a chat that would follow them throughout the night: “For the Kids.”

Click here to view an exclusive photo slideshow.

Iowa City, IA- President of the University Sally Mason arrives before she makes speech in power hour at 5:00 a.m at Dance Marathon 18, on February 4. (The Daily Iowan / Ya-Chen Chen)

A few keynote guests arrived shortly before Power Hour at the IMU for Dance Marathon 18. President Sally Mason arrived and greeted past alumni and current dancers.

Before Mason spoke to the dancers and families she told The Daily Iowan that Dance Marathon was  her favorite campus event.

“This event is so important to the university in so many ways. I think it really highlights what our students are all about. The generosity, the spirit that they have, the enthusiasm — after 24 hours that is still going on,” Mason said. “This is my favorite event every year.”

Rep. Dave Loebsack D-Iowa also arrived close to five o’clock and said he was looking forward to seeing what Dance Marathon is all about for the first time.

“I’ve never actually been to the event before …but I want to see what’s going on. I can’t say I’m going to dance though,” he said with a laugh.

Loebsack said he thinks the total funds raised will surpass the dancers expectations.

“I have no doubt they’ll succeed that this year,” Loebsack said.

Gov. Terry Branstad was expected to have visited the Big Event earlier this morning, but was reportedly absence due to sickness. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who was scheduled to appear alongside Branstad, paid a visit to the IMU around noon to deliver the governor’s proclamation. Branstad proclaimed Feb. 4 to be “For The Kids” day in Iowa.

Mason spoke to the exhausted, large crowd with encouraging words and praise.

Mason said this year’s Dance Marathon population has grown much larger since last year, and the crowd has broken many records.

“Wow, I thought there were a lot of people here last year,” Mason said. “But you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

Mason concluded her speech with a few encouraging words to the dancers.

“My goal coming out here today is to and thank you all, encourage you to get through the rest of the day, celebrate what will be a great Dance Marathon victory, and say thank you to everyone here, including the families here today,” she said.

Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) poses with University of Iowa mascot, Herky, during his visit to Dance Marathon 18. (The Daily Iowan/Asmaa Elkeurti)

A Dance Marathon 18 participant fist pumps after 20 hours of dancing. (The Daily Iowan/Asmaa Elkeurti)

The Morale Captains in Training finally got their first taste of the lime light.

MCT’s and Morale Captains performed under the bright lights for the first of two Morale Dances a little while before participants geared up for  Power Hour — the final hour of Dance Marathon.

Morale Captain in Training Regan Hulsig said learning the morale dance was her favorite experience, but it was a lot of work.

“I really enjoyed [the dance],” the 13-year-old said. “It’s a great experience because it’s the first time I have ever done [Dance Marathon].”

But Christopher Jones, 13, didn’t feel the same. He wasn’t looking forward to the Morale Dance beforehand.

“I haven’t learned it,” he said with a smile, adding he was nervous about performing in such a large crowd.

Jones decided taking a four-hour nap would be more beneficial.

“It was fantastic,” he said.

Hulsig and Jones both had cancer, and they are here today because of their friends and their personal experiences in the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.

“I had cancer, but I am also here to dance for my friends that died of cancer,” Hulsig said. “I would be interested in doing Dance Marathon in college, and I’d like my friends to do it with me.”

Jones said he also plans on participating in the MCT program next year.

“Since I had cancer, [Dance Marathon] has been such a big part of my life when I was in the hospital,” he said.

MCT’s spend a majority of the Big Event interacting with their partnered morale captain, learning the morale dance, and receiving special nicknames from veteran captains.

— Kristen East and Jordyn Reiland

Students dance with the kids at the end of Dance Marathon 18 at 5:00 pm on Saturday. (The Daily Iowan/Jessica Payne)

Athletes filled the children’s room, lining up as they chatted with wide-eyed children happy to see them.

Hawkeye Quarterback James Vandenberg said Dance Marathon is a great cause.

“”We have done this for a couple of years, and we all enjoy it,” Vandenberg said.

Offensive Lineman Matt Tobin said he enjoys interacting with the kids.

“I enjoyed meeting the kids, it was a lot of fun,” Tobin said. “It’s a great cause to raise money for the Children’s Hospital.”

Other team members agreed.

Linebacker Christian Kirksley said it’s important for the kids to have support when they are going through something so tough.

“Kids always need support,” Kirksley said. “It’s really great to put a smile on their faces.”

Though Cornerback Jordan Lomax is only a freshman, he said doing events like this give the kids a look at who the athletes are as everyday people.

“This gives the kids a chance to see [us] on a different perspective,” Lomax said. “It’s a chance to interact with the community, and it shows the kids that we’re not just a team, but a family.”

Defensive lineman Nathan Lyman said his favorite part of the event was seeing all the kids.

“It was great to sign autographs and see the kids faces,” Lyman said. “It’s a great chance to give back.”

— By Jordyn Reiland