A rash of money raised to fight measles
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey's Youth Council had its third annual dancea thon on Saturday at South Brunswick High School. Money was raised for local Red Cross services and for the Measles Initiative.

Last year's event went very well, said Aubrey Yarbrough, a youth and volunteer administrator for theAmerican Red Cross of Central New Jersey. They raised nearly $20,000.

"It went better than anyone expected," Yarbrough said. "The kids danced and enjoyed themselves. It actually felt like a party."

This year's went just as well, according to Diane Concannon, the public relations director of the Red Cross of Central Jersey. Nearly 200 students attended the dance-a-thon.

"It was a good event," Concannon said. "Anytime things go off well with kids having fun, it's a success. The DJ went fullforce the whole time."

The first year of the event, two years ago, was a bit of a trial-and-error situation, according to Yarbrough.

"They tried to keep the kids dancing the whole time," she said. "They had dance lessons, which interrupted the dance flow."

Changes were made to improve it.

"Now, we try and run it more like a club," Yarbrough said. "The vast majority of people were dancing the majority of the time."

Yarbrough said it's a great opportunity for high school kids to help the Red Cross.

"High School students can't go out at 3 a.m. to respond for a disaster," she said. "Parents wouldn't let them and it would interfere with schoolwork. They can't fly to Africa to give measles shots."

The music was provided by DJs from Round The Clock Entertainment and food was donated by the Americana Diner. Twenty percent of the proceeds will go to the Measles Initiative, while the rest will go to the local Red Cross, to be used for responses to house fires, local floods, as well as blood drives.

Students received community service hours for their participation in the event. An iPod Touch was raffled off as well.