Students will be kicking up their heels this weekend during the second annual Buckeyethon dance marathon at the Ohio Union.

Non-stop action, including live bands, DJs, and student comedian Ryan Silverman, will keep more than 80 dancers moving during the 14-hour session.

Last year, the marathon ran for 26 hours, but shortening this year’s marathon was designed to attract more people and start a new tradition, said Ryan Chanatry, the co-director of Buckeyethon.

Last year, some dancers did not enjoy the marathon because of the tense atmosphere. The volunteers, who were also called moralers, kept a tight watch on the dancers by tracking how long dancers rested.

But this year, Chanatry hopes the fewer hours will lighten the atmosphere.

Chanatry said more people may participate if there are fewer dancing hours.

“We want to provide enough fun and entertainment to keep the tradition going,” he said.

Buckeyethon is a fund-raising event benefiting Columbus Children’s Hospital. Last year more than $32,000 was donated.

“All proceeds go to the Behavior Health Services because they are the most under-funded portion of the hospital,” said Darla Dickey, co-chair for the hospital relations committee.

Besides Penn State, whose thon event is the largest student-run philanthropy event in the world, Chanatry said he thinks Ohio State’s first marathon was a big success.

“We did extremely well for our first year,” he said.

The dance marathon is modeled after those enacted in schools around the country. This year will be Penn. State’s 30th anniversary of the event, having raised more than $20 million dollars

In addition to dancing from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the union, the Ohio Union Activities Board is sponsoring Late Night at the Ohio Union. Casino games and free food from Chipotle will be available and representatives from the Columbus Zoo will show off animals.

BuckeyeThon will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday and continue until 1 a.m. Sunday. Students can attend the informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. today in Scarlet Suite R of the Ohio Union.

“It was a great experience, and it’s so rewarding,” said Ellen Gahl, a junior in Irish dance education who danced last year.