Illinois Wesleyan University began holding a Dance Marathon fundraiser last year. The idea is that student groups will form dance teams and raise money to join the event with proceeds benefiting a cause. In this case, the cause is the Children's Hospital of Illinois (CHOI). Every few hours the students take a break and listen to a story from a family who's been impacted by CHOI. We spoke last year when Linden was still itty bitty and agreed to tell our story this year as well.We assumed that the crowd of boisterous college co-eds would make her a bit clingy, but it was just the opposite. As soon as we entered the student center and Linden heard the music, she just wanted to be set down so that she could run to the dance floor and move.
I still assumed she'd calm down when we were on stage with everyone looking at us, but again she surprised me. She wanted to climb off the stage toward the students, then climb back up, then grab the microphone -- she was so excited and busy. She clearly loves having all the attention directed at her.
Afterward, a student came over and asked if Linden would come to her while Laine was holding her. Linden never goes to strangers when she could instead be held by Laine. But, for whatever reason, Linden reached forward and grabbed onto this random college girl. They danced together for a bit and then the group was called to the stage to take a group picture. And Linden joined in, sitting front and center on this student's lap.
