**Victoria Mechler**
_Dancing the night away, for a good cause_

Victoria Mechler, director of public relations for Mizzou Dance Marathon, has found a way to use her passion for dance to benefit children in need.

“I was a dancer for eight years,” she says.

Melcher says Dance Marathon has given her a way to use her love of dancing for good. The program raises funds for the MU Children’s Hospital and hosts a 13.1 hour dance party.

The senior journalism student has been involved with Dance Marathon for all four of her years at MU. She served as a Morale Captain her freshman and sophomore years. Mechler was inspired to get involved with Dance Marathon by her Summer Welcome leader, who was the program’s executive director at the time.

Mechler, who in the past has been a Community Advisor for the Department of Residential Life and has served with Caring for Columbia, says while the program is huge commitment, it’s well worth it.

The Houston, Texas, native says she’s formed connections with the families the event has benefitted, and she calls the program a “celebration of the families and kids (we support).”

**Amy Livesay**
_Mother, runner and business owner_

Amy Livesay was always active, but she only started running at 24.

Livesay had met her future husband, and the two started training for a triathlon. She completed her first Ironman with her husband on their honeymoon. Since then she’s done four more.

In the years that have passed since, Livesay has become a mother of two and established her own business, Ultramax Sports, in partnership with her husband.

As she and her husband competed in triathlons, friends would ask them for advice on what to purchase.

“I realized there was a need for guidance for people,” Livesay says. “If your feet are hurting, you can’t do anything.”

Ultramax isn’t just a running store, Livesay says.

“It’s for people who do jazzercise, who walk or just need a shoe to get around in,” she says.

And Ultramax doesn’t serve exercise fanatics alone.

“I look up to people who have just started, who came in overweight and are now doing marathons,” Livesay says. “Maybe they’re just doing four or five miles a day. … The most talented runners aren’t as inspirational as the average person getting out to do this.”

For Livesay, giving people the confidence to do what they love is important. She’s learned that first hand.

“(During my first Ironman) I really thought I would quit,” Livesay says. “But at mile 20, I was still running, and I kept running. I realized that people underestimate what they can do.”