College of Nursing DanceBlue Team Raises $8,949 For the Kids, Wins FTK Cup
Members of the UK College of Nursing participated in and fundraised for DanceBlue, raising $8,949 "For the Kids" and taking home the FTK Cup, which is awarded to a small team (non-Greek) at DanceBlue that raises the most money and has the most involvement in year-round DanceBlue activities.
A yearlong fundraising effort involving thousands of UK students, DanceBlue culminates in a 24-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon and is UK's largest student-run philanthropy. 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 $11,616,829.58 for the kids, providing financial and emotional support for children and families living with childhood cancer.
In January 2017, the new, state-of-the-art DanceBlue Kentucky Children's Hospital (KCH) Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic was opened. Being majorly supported by a culmination of efforts of thousands of DanceBlue students over the past 12 years, the clinic now caters to roughly 80 new oncology patients every year. A majority of the patients treated within the clinic come from within the state, specifically Central and Eastern Kentucky.
Though financial support raised through DanceBlue has helped open more exam space and infusion treatment rooms, support research, and provide social workers and child life specialists, a relational — emotional and personal — aspect provided by DanceBlue leaves lasting impressions on DanceBlue Clinic patients and families across the state of Kentucky.
"The students have a real commitment to our patients," said Dr. Lars Wagner, division chief of pediatric hematology/oncology. "They build relationships, then they work hard to raise funds to help support these very kids that they're getting to know and care for."
