The 2025 Dance Marathon at Florida State University (DM at FSU) was destined to achieve milestones, as it was the 30th year the university and the greater Tallahassee community came together to raise money to support pediatric health care.

A second milestone was achieved when “the reveal” showed this year’s dance-fest raised $1,334,457 and change, surpassing last year’s $1.24 million to support Children’s Miracle Network programs in the Gainesville area and pediatric outreach programs of the FSU College of Medicine. 

The total includes $258,985 raised by middle school and high school partner marathons in Leon and Wakulla counties.

“Thank you for bringing our community together for a cause,” Executive Director Darcy Sullivan told the crowd shortly before the reveal. “This has been the best year of my life.”

An estimated 1,500 students participated in the event Feb. 28-March 2 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. Including this year’s total, DM at FSU – FSU’s largest student-led organization and the fifth-largest Dance Marathon in the United States – has raised more than $22 million.

“When we all believe in miracles, anything is possible,” West said.

Established in 1995 and first held in 1996, the marathon raised $25,521 its first year. Bryan Seaquist, who co-founded it along with Travis Ferguson, said they wanted to create a project to bring “town and gown,” the community and the university, closer together.

“We had Greek Week, with fraternities and sororities, but we want to expand it to include more people,” said Seaquist, who along with Ferguson attends closing ceremonies every year. 

Dr. Alma B. Littles, dean of the College of Medicine, noted that FSU had no medical school when DM at FSU began, and all proceeds supported UF Health Shands Children's Hospital Gainesville.

“This year, we are celebrating both the 25th anniversary of the legislation that created the College of Medicine, and the 20th anniversary of the graduation of our inaugural class, and Dance Marathon plays a role in our coming full circle as we grew,” she said.

In 2003, that inaugural class was in its second year when DM at FSU and Children’s Miracle Network decided to make the college a beneficiary, splitting the proceeds after expenses evenly between Shands and the College of Medicine.

“I remember – vividly – dancing with members of our first two classes at Tully Gym in 2003, along with our faculty and our then-dean, Ocie Harris,” she said. “The moves were a little bit simpler than the ones I just witnessed … but we all had a blast!”

Littles also gave an update on the college’s Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), announcing that a new master’s program in genetic counseling is being created at the institute and will debut in 2027. One of IPRD’s goals is to have every newborn in Florida tested for genetic markers for rare diseases, so there can be earlier intervention for better outcomes as the scientists work toward prevention and cures.

And this year, for the first time in more than a decade, the college fielded a dance team in addition to holding fund-raisers for the marathon. The six dancers joined many of the college’s community partner-providers on stage during the closing ceremonies. 

“It is so fitting that the College of Medicine Dance Marathon dance team is back in action during this year of anniversaries,” Littles told the crowd. “The hard work and dedication of each and every one of you will have a positive and significant impact on the lives of children who need help the most … Thank you, and congratulations on all you have accomplished!”

Contact Audrey Post at audrey.post@med.fsu.edu

Photo captions:

Photo above: Representatives of several of the College of Medicine's partner organizations in pediatric outreach, along with the College of Medicine Dance Marathon 2025 Dance Team, take the stage to say "thank you" to the dancers and organizers.

Spotlight photo on the Home page: The Dance Marathon Leadership team reveals DM raised $1,334,457 this year, to be divided after expenses between UF Health Shands Children's Hospital and the FSU College of Medicine pediatric outreach programs.

Photo at top right: Members of the College of Medicine Dance Marathon 2025 dance team pose for a group photo. Front row, co-chairs Kaitlyn Barnes, left, and Canna Liu; back row, from left, Alexandra Bush, David Hartsfield, Kieu Tran and Victoria Vida. All six are first-year medical students. Barnes participated in DM at FSU as an undergraduate student; Liu and Bush participated in DM as undergraduate students at the University of Florida.

Photos by Colin Hackley for the FSU College of Medicine.