ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Students, faculty, staff and community members will be showing off their best dance moves at Elmira College for its annual Dance Marathon, all raising money for a special cause.

The main purpose of the Elmira College Dance Marathon (ECDM) is to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) at Arnot Ogden Medical Center.

"It all goes towards the NICU and pediatric units at Arnot," said Event Director Annabelle Schmitte ’23. "They use it for gas cards, families traveling back and forth...and equipment that they need in the hospital."

Since ECDM was founded in 2015, the event has raised more than $60,000 for CMN at Arnot Health. Participants in last year's event, which went virtual due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, specifically raised $6,170.

This year's Dance Marathon will be the first to be back in person since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and the students set a promising goal to celebrate.

"This year our goal is $10,000, and as of right now we've raised about 20 to 25% of that," said Finance Executive James Blair '23. "It's really awesome that we've gotten so much so far."

While ECDM will be hosted by college students, Schmitte encourages everyone throughout the Twin Tiers to come and participate.

"We want it to be a unifying event for everyone," she said.

This year's Elmira College Dance Marathon will take place on April 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the Campus Center Portico. Those who are interested in participating or making a donation can visit the ECDM website here.