Hundreds of students helped raise a record $34,000 for charity this weekend by volunteering to support this year’s Hoyathon, a dance marathon during which 65 danced continuously for 24 hours.

Hoyathon, Georgetown’s 24-hour dance marathon, has been raising money for children’s charities every year since 2001.

The total amount of money raised this year increased $7,000 from last year’s $27,000.

The 65 dancers in this year’s Hoyathon began dancing at 6 p.m. Friday evening and did not stop, except for a few short breaks, until 6 p.m. on Saturday. They were supported by several hundred volunteers, four bands, five a cappella groups and numerous donors.

“We tried to make it bigger and better than ever,” Laura Saldivar (COL ’05), the chair of the Hoyathon board, said.

Saldivar got involved with Hoyathon as a dancer during her freshman year.

The dancers seek financial sponsorship before the event and each dancer commits to providing at least $100. Hoyathon also raises money through donations.

This year, the money raised will go to the Children’s National Medical Center. In past years the total revenue has been divided between the CNMC and Georgetown’s children’s hospital.

Saldivar said the board decided to donate all of the proceeds to only one charity this year because other expenditures will reduce the total amount donated to a significantly lower figure.

Only about $18,000 of the total $34,000 will go to the CNMC, Saldivar said. The remainder of the money will pay for Hoyathon’s expenses and the costs of planning and holding the event.

Saldivar said the Hoyathon board chose to donate all of the money to the CNMC because they decided it was in greater need of the money than other organizations like the Georgetown children’s hospital.

The group’s main goal this year, in addition to raising money for a children’s charity, was to increase awareness of Hoyathon. Saldivar said the board tried to increase awareness by developing catchy fliers, such as the “I Heart Hoyathon” posters that were seen around campus this year.

The board members wanted more people on campus to recognize Hoyathon and know what it is, Saldivar said.

“I think we did well with that,” she said. “A lot of people stopped by and we raised more money than we have before.”