Eleven-year-old Braeden Deaver has attended several ElonTHON events, including the dance marathon, open gym events and baseball games. At ElonTHON’s latest Field Day, he said his favorite part was being able to spend time with other people and playing games.
Families and volunteers gathered at South Campus Gym on Oct. 3 for ElonTHON’s Field Day, where they spent the afternoon playing soccer, kickball, badminton, hula hooping and tug of war. The event gave children supported by ElonTHON a chance to spend time with volunteers and other families.
“It’s socializing and seeing people have fun. I like playing the games,” Deaver said.
ElonTHON is a six-hour dance marathon that raises money for Duke’s Children’s Hospital through the Children’s Miracle Network. Throughout the year, the organization holds smaller fundraising events, including Field Day, pickleball tournaments and profit shares. These events lead up to ElonTHON’s main event in April.
Paige Postufka, president of ElonTHON, said the organization’s events are also about building relationships with the children and families it supports.
“It is very clear that we’re making a real impact in the community just through the relationships we have with these kids, the smiles we see on their faces,” Postufka said.
ElonTHON works with families whose children have been directly impacted by care at Duke Children’s Hospital. The families are invited to events throughout the year and participate in the annual dance marathon.
Stephanie Deaver, Braeden’s mom, said that her family has been involved with ElonTHON for several years. She said she was surprised by how much effort students put into making the family feel included when they first attended the dance marathon.
“He loved it. It was way more than I was even expecting," Stephanie said. "They went all out and made him feel so special. He had a blast.”
Stephanie said the fundraising done through ElonTHON has a direct impact on the children and their families.
“The money that they raise to donate goes to such a good cause,” Stephanie Deaver said. “So many kids are really struggling and anything that anyone can do to help them, help their families, bring a little joy to their lives even the little things makes such a big difference to these kids.”
For Sal Mazzurco, the connection to ElonTHON goes back years before his own children became involved. Mazzurco said he supported ElonTHON through his restaurant in Burlington for about 25 years before his family became a part of the organization.
“We never thought that having kids, we would be kind of full circle with ElonTHON,” Mazzurco said.
Mazzurco said seeing the impact of the money raised by ElonTHON has been meaningful for his family, especially through the resources and activities provided to children receiving care.
For Postufka, the relationships formed through ElonTHON are part of what makes the organization’s work meaningful.
“It’s nice to know that we’re doing something for generations,” Postufka said.
As ElonTHON continues its fundraising throughout the fall, the organization is also looking for students to get involved with its staff and upcoming events.
For Braeden, the events are something he plans to keep coming back to.
“I’m looking forward to all the next events, the next games, and all that good stuff,” Braeden said.