CARMEL, Ind. — Sarah Wolff is a teacher at Carmel High School, where she has organized the school's Dance Marathon since 2004.
Earlier this month, Wolff traveled to New York City for a taping of "The Kelly Clarkson Show" on NBC. The episode aired Tuesday, Dec. 19.
Kelly invited Wolff to the show to celebrate a major milestone for Carmel High School Dance Marathon: raising more than $6 million for Riley Hospital for Children.
What Wolff didn't know is that Carmel High School alumni would be in the room to witness her accept a $25,000 donation from a sponsor of "The Kelly Clarkson Show."
"These kids are really passionate about what they do," said Courtney Beyers of Carmel. "They do a phenomenal job. I just think Dance Marathon, as a whole, is very important for the funds they continue to raise for Riley Hospital."
Beyers is the mother of 12-year-old Lucy, a patient at Riley Hospital for Children.
"Lucy has a rare genetic disorder," Courtney said.
To help celebrate Carmel High School's milestone, Lucy and her family were also invited to New York City.
Lucy said she got her own dressing room before the show, along with hair and makeup. It was also her first time in "the Big Apple."
"I went to go see The Rockettes show, and then I went ice skating at Rockefeller Center," Lucy said.
After the taping, the Beyers family took the stage to meet Clarkson.
"She gave us a great big hug," Courtney said.
"I gave her an ornament that I decorated two years ago," Lucy said.
Courtney added, "She was the ornament girl for Riley a few years ago, so she had designed her own ornament. So we gave Kelly an ornament."
The trip to Studio 6A was also an early birthday present for Lucy, who turned 12 on Dec. 15.
Clarkson gifted Lucy a signed record that said "Happy Birthday, Lucy!"
Back home in Carmel, the Beyers said they are thankful for Dance Marathons across the state, especially in Carmel.
"The high schoolers are really nice there," Lucy said. "They make it really fun, and so does Sarah. If they didn't put all the work into Dance Marathon, it wouldn't have been awesome and raised a lot of money for Riley."