Dance Marathon at 30: From Big Brother to the Big Event

Three years old. Nine cycles of chemotherapy. Six weeks of radiation.

Aidan Cunningham attends Dance Marathon with his sister, Maddy, a former pediatric cancer patient.

Maddy Cunningham of Des Moines was diagnosed in 2007 with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor, after experiencing persistent headaches and flu-like symptoms. Her treatment at the University of Iowa’s children’s hospital lasted almost a year, starting with weekly chemotherapy and daily radiation, and ending with maintenance chemotherapy.

UI Dance Marathon was there throughout her treatment, and she and her family were guests for 16 Big Events. Maddy has since been declared cancer-free and is now a college student at Des Moines Area Community College. And while it has been just shy of two decades since the Cunninghams’ first interaction with UI Dance Marathon, the family’s involvement continues.

Aidan Cunningham (23BS), Maddy’s brother and the operations director for Dance Marathon 29, dedicated his time as an Iowa student to serving Dance Marathon families like his. He’s held leadership positions in the organization since his first year of college, including with volunteer recruitment and retention, family relations, and operations.

“I always had this feeling I wanted to do something that helped others.” —Aidan Cunningham

Aidan has considered himself part of the Dance Marathon family ever since Maddy was diagnosed when he was in kindergarten. “I just knew that she was really sick and that she was going to be in the hospital every once in a while, so I wouldn’t be seeing much of her,” he says. “But I didn’t really understand what was happening.”

Some of his favorite childhood memories involved attending the Big Events. “It was being with all the friends I had made—other siblings and oncology patients,” he says. “We would be at the event and just stay up the entire time.”

As a leader for Dance Marathon 29 in 2023, Aidan Cunningham helped the organization raise $1,174,008.29 to support patients and families at UI Stead Family Children's Hospital.

Lessons for a Lifetime

Aidan’s positive experiences with Dance Marathon as a kid and passion for giving back were motivating factors in his decision to serve on its leadership team and attend the UI. “I always had this feeling I wanted to do something that helped others,” he says, “and that stemmed from this feeling as a kid that I couldn’t help my sister.”

Dance Marathon students are encouraged to find their “why”—their purpose for joining the organization. For Aidan, his reason was clear long before he became a student but continued to grow when he became director of operations during his senior year in 2022-23.

“Dance Marathon matters to me because it gave me a sense of purpose as I was growing up.” —Aidan Cunningham

As director, Aidan oversaw the committee that plans events, ensures the event is environmentally sustainable, and problem-solves any issues that arise. He learned how planning details of events can affect the family experience and help build connections between students and families.

That experience provided him with enduring friendships and the opportunity to share his story as a sibling. “Dance Marathon matters to me because it gave me a sense of purpose as I was growing up,” says Aidan, who was inspired by his work with the organization to become a physical therapist. “It matters to me now because I want to keep witnessing that [passion for Dance Marathon at Iowa] and, even as an alumnus, giving it my all.”

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