Coral Springs High School Dance Marathon. All photos by Coral Springs High School student Jarid Altmark.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

Their initial goal was to raise $3,000 at Coral Springs High School’s first-ever Dance Marathon, but the students far exceeded that.

“We were so excited to raise $10,143.28 for the kids at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital,” said director and student government member Stephen Marante.

Dance Marathon, a nationally recognized program benefitting the Children’s Miracle Network, is considered one of the largest, student-run philanthropic movements in the United States. Coral Springs High School held theirs on  March 23, from 5 p.m – 10:00 p.m. in the school gymnasium inviting those outside of the school to attend.

Marante said the event was such a success, they even had to turn people away because gymnasium was at capacity.

The money will go to a great cause: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, formerly Miami Children’s, is a world leader in pediatric healthcare offering more than 40 pediatric specialties and subspecialties, and is home to Florida’s only free-standing pediatric trauma center.

Shannon, a former patient of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.