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DePaul’s fourth annual dance marathon, Demonthon, set a new record this year by raising more than $257,000 for the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Students celebrated the yearlong fundraiser with dancing, donations and other activities for 24 hours in McGrath Arena Friday. Demonthon participants, called dancers, beat last year’s fundraising total by more than $40,000.

At its start in 2012, Demonthon beat the national record for first-time dance marathons by raising more than $103,000, and last year it was ranked 17th in the country out of 270 dance marathons around the country.   

Dancers collected money over the course of the year from friends, relatives and random donations on the street during canning campaigns.

Earlier this month Demonthon raised more than $36,000 in 24 hours in a mass canning campaign they called Miracles ‘til Midnight.

At Friday’s event, participants dressed in costume and Demonthon dance captains led them in themed dances.