Blog author: Ashleigh Rauner | Vice President of Marketing

CowboyThon at Oklahoma State University culminated its year-long fundraising efforts on Saturday, Feb. 11 with a 12-hour dance marathon event. With over 1,600 students registered as dancers, the event was full of many miracle makers in attendance.

Thanks to the fundraising efforts of Oklahoma State University students, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores and other generous donors, CowboyThon revealed a total raised of $161,204.17 for the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Foundation, an affiliate of The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center.

Over the course of the 12 hours, dancers accepted ridiculous dares for donations on stage, heard Miracle Families share their stories of incredible strength through triumph in the hospital, interacted with 15 Miracle Families in the circus-themed Family Zone and much more.

CowboyThon continued the tradition of the Miracle Child Art Auction, with Miss OSU hosting the segment and bidding canvases painted by Miracle Children to the crowd. The highest bidder took home a canvas for $515, a record-breaking amount for CowboyThon’s Miracle Child Art Auction.

CowboyThon began a new tradition for the program in future years: the hospital bracelet cutting ceremony. Upon registration, each dancer was given an orange bracelet to wear throughout the duration of the day. The bracelets, similar to the patient bracelets that children wear during their hospital stays, represent the connection to the fight for the kids. Before the conclusion of the event and the final total reveal, leadership members traveled around the room with scissors to cut off students’ bracelets as a reminder that even though the marathon had come to and end, the fight still continues.

In 24 total hours of broadcasting from UNM Children’s Hospital, Jackie, Tony and Donnie from 100.3 The Peak helped raise $180,102.  This was due to the generous support of the Albuquerque community and from donations from our sponsors like First Financial Credit Union, Rio Grande Credit Union, Sandia Office Supply and Dreamstyle Remodeling.

The grand total is…$180,000!

Thanks to each and every one of you who donated…or told a friend about the UNM… https://t.co/zTuEq1JCOm

— 100.3 The Peak (@1003ThePeakABQ) February 18, 2017

All funds generated through this two-day event stay right here in New Mexico to pay for equipment, training and programs that will benefit the thousands of children treated at UNM Children’s each year.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Radiothons are broadcasted on over 350 radio stations each year. Stations engage listeners with inspiring stories of Miracle Children from area communities and ask listeners to call in and pledge support for local kids.

Nearly 6,000 REMAX agents gathered in Las Vegas last week for the annual R4 convention. Among them, many agents who participate in the Miracle Home and Miracle Property programs and who contributed to the $9 million raised for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 2015.

Representing the millions of CMN Hospitals patients REMAX supports each year was 10-year-old Camryn. Born six weeks premature, with a congenital heart defect and multiple orthopedic issues, she endured a dozen surgeries and was told she may never walk, talk or see. Today, Camryn is a walking, talking and country music-singing miracle.

Camryn was first introduced to R4 attendees at the opening general session hosted by Jay Leno. She blew kisses to the crowd during an interview with REMAX senior vice president, business alliances, Mike Reagan as she shared her inspiring story and thanked agents for support of CMN Hospitals.

Throughout the week, agents had multiple opportunities to interact with Camryn, make donations and learn more about supporting CMN Hospitals. Golfers purchased mulligans with donations at the Tee it Up for Kids Golf Tournament. Top REMAX donors were honored at a special breakfast with REMAX co-founder Gail Linger. Agents received training on a new Miracle System to streamline agent donations and honor cards through the Miracle Home and Miracle Property programs. Dillard’s featured Camryn and her mom in a spring fashion show and donated to CMN Hospitals a percentage of clothing sales. A live auction including celebrity meet and greets, vacation getaways and once-in-a-lifetime experiences also took place, raising $150,000 toward the REMAX 2016 fundraising goal.