College of Nursing DanceBlue Team Raises More than $20k For The Kids!

By Tassy Taylor

The College of Nursing DanceBlue team is proud to announce it raised $20,238.69 For The Kids (FTK) – more than double the amount raised last year.

“Despite the records that were broken, the friendships that were made, and the fun we have had, at the end of the day, all our efforts were for the kids,” says the College’s DanceBlue co-captain and undergraduate BSN student Hannah Thompson. 

The team nearly tripled its spirit points, totaling 932 this year in comparison to last year’s 322, earning a spot for each team member to dance on the floor. Additionally, the team collected donations from 27 states across the U.S.

The team was humbled to come face-to-face with their “why” behind DanceBlue. Together, the students sponsored one child affected by pediatric cancer. Throughout the year, they’d visit him or hold gatherings for holidays. On Halloween, the College had a “trick-or-treat” event where he knocked on staff members’ doors to collect candy.

“We get so caught up in our daily routines, we forget how truly blessed we are. That kiddo made us stop in our tracks and change the way we live," says Thompson.

 “I am walking away from this experience humbled and changed. I thank the Lord for giving each one of us this opportunity and allowing us to serve as a vessel for His work,” says Thompson.

The College of Nursing graciously thanks those who donated to the CON DanceBlue team. We also thank the following students for their commitment to this important cause (listed by class):

May 2018

Julie Lang

Michelle Peter

Mackienze Pierce

Sarah Stigall

December 2018

Alli Overfield

Austin Evanski

Courtney Hovious

Ellie Keene

Hannah Thompson

Jasmine Regner

Kayla O’Malley

Mallorie Weis

Molly Scholes

Olivia Sasdi

Payton Novak

Sierra Stark

May 2019

Garrett McKenna

Grace Witt

December 2019

Helen Linder

Paige Brookes

Ramsey Hatchett

Tricia Hatchett

December 2020

Lindsay Wright

DanceBlue kicks off at Memorial Coliseum this Saturday, February 17, at 8 pm and ends 24 hours later at 8 pm on the 18th. Considered one of the greatest traditions the University of Kentucky has to offer, DanceBlue is one of the fastest growing philanthropies in the Southeastern Conference. Come join the fun while the CON students dance for 24 hours to end childhood cancer.

You can still support the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic by donating here: https://goo.gl/HydV4H