What's New at DanceBlue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2013) — What is the biggest challenge of DanceBlue? No, it's not the line dance, the fundraising or even just trying to stay awake and upright for 24 hours. The biggest challenge for the organizers of the marathon is how to make it bigger and better each year for the dancers, spectators and the children and families of the clinic. This year, DanceBlue has a few new features that hope to make this marathon the best one yet.

One new element to this year’s marathon is a silent auction. During the afternoon on Saturday, Feb. 23, several auction items will be available for guests to bid on beginning at 1 p.m. The silent auction closes at 6 p.m. and items range from gift certificates to local restaurants to a signed portion of the 2012 National Championship basketball court.

Mail call, a traditional element of the marathon, has a new twist for 2013. Supporters were asked to submit their letters to dancers electronically through a Google application. The letters have been formatted and will be distributed to dancers throughout the 24 hours as encouragement and support.

As the marathon has grown, so has its alumni base. For the first time in 2013, a designated alumni balcony area will be open. Former dancers and past chairs and committee members are welcome to reconnect with one another on the balcony during the marathon. The UK Alumni Association is also hosting a reception prior to the beginning of the marathon on Friday for DanceBlue alumni. Click here for more information.

Student volunteers will also be manning a phone-a-thon, reaching out to past donors and dancers who have supported DanceBlue throughout the years.

The eighth annual DanceBlue dance marathon kicks off at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Memorial Coliseum on UK's campus and concludes at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23. DanceBlue is UK’s 24 hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon that benefits the Golden Matrix Fund and the DanceBlue Kentucky Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology Clinic. Since its inception in 2006, DanceBlue has raised more than $3.5 million for pediatric cancer research and children with cancer.

DanceBlue is a program housed in the Center for Community Outreach. The CCO seeks to serve, connect and unite the University of Kentucky with the surrounding community in collaborative efforts to promote life-long community service. For more information about the CCO, visit getinvolved.uky.edu/cco. Connect with the CCO on Facebook here and on Twitter at twitter.com/ukcco.

Give to DanceBlue here and connect with DanceBlue on Facebook at www.facebook.com/danceblue and on Twitter at twitter.com/UKDanceBlue