Purdue University and Indiana University have a rivalry that isn’t just reserved for the field or court but moves beyond to the organizations.

The two universities hold dance marathons every year; both organizations work to raise money for Riley Children’s Hospital as part of Children’s Miracle Network. They both work year-round to fundraise for multiple events. Purdue’s marathon is in the spring while Indiana holds theirs in the fall.

The event includes games and bands, among other events, planned by the Purdue University Dance Marathon organization and is a free event open to the Lafayette community. Fifteen Riley families will speak at the marathon and there will be a Riley Kids talent show at the marathon that starts on Saturday.

Purdue’s marathon will be held from 3 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday in the east and west gyms in Purdue’s Recreational Sports Center. Fundraising will run throughout the event.

Chris Gecewicz, a first-semester senior in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences, said the event is getting bigger every year.

“It used to be 6 to noon. We are getting more campus recognition,” he said.

While Purdue raised $101,550.92 at the Purdue University Dance Marathon in 2009, a significant increase from previous years, Indiana University Dance Marathon raised $1,520,418.21. Part of the fundraising that goes to overall earning is the initial fundraising made by the dancers. The participants must first raise a minimum of $150 for Purdue, said Gecewicz, an amount the 880 dancers in the 2009 marathon had to raise.

Mallory St. Claire, a freshman at IU and a member of Indiana University Dance Marathon, said IU’s dancer minimum is $500 for the 850 dancers in 2009, and that they look towards campus and surrounding Bloomington when fundraising.

“We receive a lot of support from the community corporate, non-monetary and brand (sources)” she said.

Gecewicz said the marathon’s earnings at Purdue have roughly been doubling in the recent years and that Purdue’s marathon is a lot newer than IU – IU’s marathon being 19 years old – which leaves room for fundraising to keep rising.

“We are only in our sixth year. We’re still expanding,” he said. “We’re still trying to spread the word and awareness.”

Despite the differences between Purdue’s and IU’s dance marathons, one thing is exactly the same for them both. Each organization doesn’t know the total of how much money is raised until the end of the marathon, said Gecewicz.

“It’s going to be for sure a surprise,” he said.