High School Spotlight: Carmel Dance Marathon

By: Ayaan Abbasi

Since 2006, Carmel High School, located in Carmel, Indiana, has hosted a Dance Marathon annually. The marathon was founded in memory of Ashley Louise Crouse by her brother, Casey Crouse. Ashley, a former Carmel High School student and a member of IU Dance Marathon’s executive council, passed away in April of 2005. This year, on February 24th, the 19th Carmel Dance Marathon was held.

Six different Riley families attended and spoke at this dance marathon, two of those being Liv Barrett and Anders Mareshes.

Liv is a part of Cabinet, the executive board that helps to plan Carmel Dance Marathon. She was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation at age 8 and was treated at Riley. At the event, she shared her story with her classmates and about how Carmel Dance Marathon had impacted her own life.

Anders’ story was told by his mother at the dance marathon. Anders recently passed away from a rare form of muscular dystrophy. The story that his mom shared inspired every member of the audience.

Zoey Hornback, the Dance Marathon Chair, said that a highlight of the event was talking with Ashley Louise Crouse’s family and even getting a donation from them. 

“It’s just crazy to think about how we have been doing CDM for so long and how it has started with Ashley’s legacy,” she said.

The event honored senior Lindsey Dykes with the ALC Award, created in memory of Ashley Louise Crouse. The award recognized her dedication to the organization and how she always worked hard to make everyone feel so loved.

At the very end of the night, the final total was revealed, showing an amount of $500,134.91 raised for Riley Hospital for Children. 

“It was so heartwarming to see how all of our hard work has paid off,” Zoey said.