It’s great to hear some good news coming out of academia once in a while.

Victoria Razzi of the College Fix reports.

What these college students did for 12 hours might surprise you – in a good way

Millennials show altruistic side at Syracuse University

For a college student to dance for 12 hours straight without sitting down, it’s not a stretch to assume they’ve consumed Molly and are under the trance of hypnotic club lights and rhythmic beats.

But at Syracuse University last weekend, more than 300 college students danced for hours on end – in a campus gym and completely sober no less. They never sat down. Kept smiling. They moved until their legs ached and their bodies felt exhausted.

During moments of weakness, they encouraged each other. “Stay strong” and “keep it up” could be heard echoing among the throng of student dancers in the Syracuse gym.

For these students weren’t dancing for themselves, for their own enjoyment or gain. They were dancing for the infants and children less than a mile away from the festivities, some of whom have Leukemia, others who suffered injuries in accidents – kids fighting for their lives.

The inaugural Syracuse University OttoTHON brought together students from all walks of life Saturday to raise money for the Children’s Hospital on campus, a cause that crossed boundaries, bringing a wide mix of students together for a common cause: “For The Kids.”

That was the rallying cry for the event, from its infancy planning stages to the actual dance marathon, a massive undertaking that took months to plan and eventually raised roughly $84,000.

There was only one rule: no sitting allowed. Athletes, Greek life members, campus clubs and others in the community all paid $100 each to dance the night and morning away.

“I did it for the children,” Magda Ivette, a freshman anthropology major, told The College Fix. “It was nice to give back, and it was a challenge that has meaning.”

At the beginning of each hour, Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” would blast over the speakers. That’s when everyone would perform the “Morale Dance” under flashing lights to help keep energy and spirits high.