DanceBlue Raises $1,631,067.49

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 28, 2016) – After 24 hours of dancing in anticipation, DanceBlue chairs and committee members revealed the 2016 grand fundraising total of $1,631,067.49 to the nearly 800 student participants and crowd of supporters.

Whether participating as a dancer, volunteer, committee member or a supporter, DanceBlue is something no one ever forgets, especially the last few hours. With a family talent show featuring children from the clinic and an emotional memorial hour to remember those who have lost their battle with cancer, the reveal this afternoon was a much anticipated moment for so many people at UK.

It all began in 2006 by raising $123,323.16 and has increased every year. With this year's total, DanceBlue has contributed $9.8 million to the Golden Matrix Fund and the DanceBlue Kentucky Children's Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic.

Nearly 800 dancers completed the 11th annual DanceBlue. All of the money raised at this annual 24-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon benefits children with cancer and their families and cancer research.

"DanceBlue has opened my eyes to a whole new way of serving my community," Erica Shipley, 2016 overall chair, said. "It’s an amazing organization because it’s mutually beneficial. DanceBlue allows students to be involved in something bigger than themselves. Dancers get to partake in the celebration of life and watch the kids at the marathon forget about the worries of cancer. All parties involved are impacted. Over the past 24 hours, we have been one campus united for one cause and it has been awesome."

Everyone at DanceBlue was there for a reason this weekend. They were there for a cure, for hope and most importantly, for the kids.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uky4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Katy Bennett, katy.bennett@uky.edu, 859-257-1909, or Rebecca Stratton, rebecca.stratton@uky.edu