Participants dance during RebelTHON on Saturday. Photo: Thomas Graning, The Daily Mississippian.
Ole Miss students danced for 12 hours Saturday in support of the kids of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis at the 2014 RebelTHON. The no-sitting, no-sleeping event was a celebration of the money raised for Le Bonheur over the past year.
“We stand for those who can’t,” said Maia Cotelo, sophomore international studies major and internal director. “We want to mimic the struggle of the families, the doctors and everyone who has so much stress for such long periods of time.”
This year, RebelTHON raised $31,454.29 for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
Sixteen Le Bonheur families attended the event, and one family spoke about its story each hour.
The Jenkins family has been commuting from Oxford to take their daughter Lindsay to Le Bonheur since September 2010.
“My daughter was having uncontrollable seizures and the doctors told us to be patient,” said Mark Jenkins, Lindsay’s father.
Lindsay was placed in an induced coma for one week due to the seizures.
“When you’re jerked up out of the middle of your life and thrown into a situation like that, you don’t know what to do,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said Lindsay spent 19 days in Le Bonheur in 2010 and that the family really appreciated the fundraiser.
“They helped us in a time of need, so we were more than happy to give back,” Jenkins said.
Each hour of the event had its own theme. Themes included a luau, school spirit, Disney, the Olympics and more. Several local restaurants helped by catering the event.
Sophomore international studies major and RebelTHON participant Katie Wright spoke about her personal experience with Le Bonheur.
“I was actually in a hospital like Le Bonheur myself,” she said. “So to be able to come out here and support these kids has been an awesome experience.”
Freshman marketing major Charlie Walker communicated his positive feelings for RebelTHON.
“The event is astounding because of the difference you’re making in these kids’ lives,” he said. “I feel like you can’t see how much impact it really has until you come to the event.”
— Randall Haley
arhaley@go.olemiss.edu
