Five Years For The Kids

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 5, 2010) – Ask UK students about DanceBlue and you'll see a special twinkle in their eyes. Whether they have danced, fundraised, participated or not, there's something about DanceBlue that reaches to the core of each Wildcat on campus – a sense of pride that rivals that of those seven national championship banners hanging from the rafters of Rupp Arena. Tonight UK's fifth annual dance marathon kicks off at 7 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.

"I do DanceBlue, and stand for all those that can't," Justin Linne, 2010 DanceBlue programming chair, said. "For all the families and children who are fighting every day. For the kids that never take a minute for granted. I also dance to remember those that we've loved and lost, may we be able to honor them and keep their memory alive one hour at a time."

DanceBlue is a 24-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon at the University of Kentucky to raise money for the Golden Matrix Fund. The Golden Matrix Fund benefits cancer research, children with cancer and their families at the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic. Click here to view a video about why DanceBlue is so important to UK students.

DanceBlue was originated in 2004 when a forum was led by Jennifer Mynear about the possibility of starting a dance marathon at UK. Mynear’s son, Jarrett died at the age of 13 after an 11-year battle with cancer. Leadership groups around UK's campus were inspired to recruit organizers for this new cancer campaign, and they were met with tremendous support. Organizers found a welcome home for this new event at the UK Center for Community Outreach.

The first DanceBlue marathon took place in February 2006 with more than 30 student organizations and 180 dancers. The marathon raised $123,323.16 for the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic. That year, DanceBlue broke all fundraising records for a first-year dance marathon event. It became the most successful student-run philanthropy event in UK’s history and has continued to grow over the years. DanceBlue 2009, with 60 teams and over 500 dancers, was able to raise $600,888.82. Since the first marathon in 2006, DanceBlue has raised more than $1.3 million for the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic. This year, DanceBlue will have nearly 660 dancers from 120 different student organization teams.

While many people are familiar with the actual dance marathon, few are aware of the incredible impact DanceBlue has on the clinic itself. The funding from DanceBlue has contributed to increased amounts of research as well as an increased staff size at the clinic. Barbara Waldmann-Ward, a nurse at the clinic, has seen the transformations that DanceBlue has helped make.

“When I started in 1982 we had two physicians, one nurse coordinator, one research nurse and one lab technician," Waldmann-Ward said. "Now we have six physicians, six nurse coordinators, two research nurses, three social workers and of course the clinic staff of six registered nurses. We are also fortunate to have our own Pharmacist and Pharmacy tech. We have our own clerk that does all the scheduling of patients, for the numerous scans, appointments with other specialties, and keeping up with all the insurance policies. DanceBlue has been an important part of our growth."

Funds from DanceBlue also go toward the Late Effects Clinic which allows physicians to do long term screening of patients. Some families travel to the clinic for treatment on a regular basis for over three years, the average length of treatment for some Leukemia protocols. Unfortunately, even after such extensive treatment, there can be lifelong side effects that stay with patients. Being able to follow up with patients in the Late Effects Clinic years after their treatment helps them to lead normal lives.

DanceBlue provides more than just financial support to the clinic. Students on the DanceBlue committee provide hands on involvement year round. Committee members regularly visit the clinic to play with the children, organize toy areas, assist children in checking in, plan fun events throughout the year and help with emotional support.

Waldmann-Ward feels that when “the (DanceBlue students) are in clinic interacting with the kids it just lightens the mood of everyone.”

Recently a photo of the 2009 fundraising reveal was placed in the lobby of the Pediatric Oncology Clinic. It symbolizes not only the impact that DanceBlue has made on the clinic, but the impact that the children and families have made on the students involved with DanceBlue and the campus community as a whole.

"I love DanceBlue for so many reasons," Kelsey Webster, 2010 DanceBlue overall chair, said. "I first fell in love with DanceBlue at the marathon in 2007. It wasn't until the memorial hour that I realized what this whole big thing was all about. Ever since that day, I have literally been hooked on DanceBlue." 

"DanceBlue has completely changed my entire college experience," Webster continued. "As a freshman I was very apathetic to any type of student involvement. I only worried about classes and what I was doing. Then DanceBlue came in and my whole perspective on college and life in general changed. As leaders we all have very personal reasons of why we "DanceBlue." For me, DanceBlue helped me get through one of the hardest times in my life. When my father passed in 2008, DanceBlue allowed me to get back up and move forward. So in a larger since, DanceBlue has probably given more to me this last four years than anything."

The campus and Lexington community are encouraged and invited to participate in DanceBlue. At 6:30 p.m., anyone interested is welcomed to gather on Stoll Field to cheer on dancers as they enter the marathon. DanceBlue officially begins at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum with a pep rally-like atmosphere and learning the 2010 DanceBlue line dance. Each hour of the marathon has a different theme, with coordinated music and activities.

From 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, are known as family hours. Family hours begin with a talent show featuring children from the clinic, a memorial hour to remember those that have lost the battle with cancer and to focus on those that are struggling now and at 7 p.m. the grand finale with the total fundraising amount revealed.

If you are unable to attend DanceBlue, you can watch it live streaming on the Web at www.danceblue.org. You can also connect with DanceBlue via Facebook (www.facebook.com/danceblue) and Twitter (twitter.com/ukdanceblue). Share your thoughts and encouragement with the dancers by using the hash tag #DB10 on your tweets.

If you'd like to support DanceBlue financially, click here to make a donation or text "DANCE" to 50555 and $5will be added to your cell phone bill to go to DanceBlue.

DanceBlue 2010 - FOR THE KIDS!