Celebrating Five Years of Fundraising and Friendships

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 3, 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.

"I do DanceBlue, and stand for all those who can't; for all the families and children who are fighting every day; for the kids who never take a minute for granted," said Justin Linne, 2010 DanceBlue programming chair. "I also dance to remember those who 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 children with cancer and their families at the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic.

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 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 more than 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 and cancer research at the Markey Cancer Center.

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 who 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."

For many years, the clinic did not have its own social worker, but with help from DanceBlue, the clinic is now able to employ three social workers who assist with meeting the needs of the patients and their families. Social workers help the families work with the school systems, assist with their social needs, guide them through financial troubles and help children get through painful procedures.

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 for 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."

DanceBlue 2010 will be held March 5 and 6 at Memorial Coliseum on UK's campus. More than 120 student teams are scheduled to participate in the 24-hour dance marathon. If you are unable to attend the marathon, click here for live-streaming video of the entire marathon. For more information on DanceBlue, visit www.danceblue.org. To donate to DanceBlue, click here or simply text "DANCE" to 50555. Five dollars will be added to your mobile phone bill and that will go to DanceBlue.