DanceBlue celebrating 20 years of spreading joy, supporting pediatric cancer clinic
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 27, 2025) – This spring, DanceBlue is celebrating 20 years of supporting the patients and families of the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
The 20th annual DanceBlue marathon will take place on March 29-30. More information on visiting the marathon can be found here.
It all started in 2006, when students at the University of Kentucky wanted to honor Jarrett Mynear’s final request: “Do something to help the clinic.”
The first DanceBlue marathon in 2006 raised $123,323 for the clinic. After that, the marathon quickly grew to be one of the best traditions at UK.
Now, students fund raise all year long for their chance to dance in the 24-hour no sitting, no sleeping DanceBlue marathon.
Over the last 20 years, the organization run completely by UK students has raised over $23 million for the clinic.
DanceBlue alumni say they are so proud to have been part of an organization that is a shining light for patients and families who are experiencing a dark time.
The organization will continue raising funds and supporting the clinic for years to come. Their ongoing mission is to spread joy to those fighting, to persevere in memory of the lives lost and to celebrate every victory until the battle against pediatric cancer is won.
The money raised through DanceBlue fundraising efforts is donated to the Golden Matrix Fund, established to support the kids of the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic both today and well into the future through an endowment. DanceBlue funds also support the yearlong fundraising engine and operations that underpin the mission, as well as providing funds to support research at the UK Markey Cancer Center.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.