DanceBlue alumni return; latest dance marathon raises more than $1.8 million

DanceBlue alumni came back home this weekend for the annual DanceBlue Alumni Reunion at the King Alumni House. And they witnessed another tremendous fundraising effort by the current group of Wildcats at this year’s DanceBlue event.

In its 13th year, DanceBlue raised $1,804,068.77. More than 900 students danced from 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.

DanceBlue is UK’s largest student-run philanthropy — a yearlong fundraising effort involving thousands of UK students, culminating in a 24-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon. All of the money raised by DanceBlue goes to the Golden Matrix Fund and cancer research. Since the organization’s launch in 2006, DanceBlue has raised more than $13,420,898.35 for the kids, providing financial and emotional support for children and families living with childhood cancer.

“I could not be more proud to be a student at a university that empowers students to be a part of something greater than themselves,” said Madison Conroy, the DanceBlue overall chair. “Over the years, the students have grasped on to the idea of DanceBlue and worked so hard toward the greater mission, of ending pediatric cancer. While it will be bittersweet to see DanceBlue 2018 come to a close, it is exciting to know that there are so many passionate students who will continue to grow DanceBlue in the years to come!”

DanceBlue students volunteer approximately 1,000 hours in the clinic each year. Every week, dozens of students produce smiles and laughter among patients and families during their medical visits at the clinic. Students selflessly give their time every day because of that one phrase that embodies the DanceBlue mission: “For The Kids.”

The DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic opened its brand new facility in 2017 after a complete renovation funded solely from DanceBlue. For more information about DanceBlue, registration information or to support its efforts, please visit www.danceblue.org. Connect with DanceBlue on Facebook at www.facebook.com/danceblue and Twitter at http://twitter.com/UKDanceBlue.

We hope you enjoy these photos from this year’s reunion.