This Valentine’s Day, blue and gold will flood Memorial Coliseum as music bellows and students dance with friends, but for what cause?
Most of us at the University of Kentucky have encountered these lively, dance-the-night-away, “FTK”-chanting students on campus who are part of the university-wide, 24-hour dance marathon called DanceBlue.
DanceBlue assists countless Kentuckians through the Golden Matrix Fund at the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
While all of that medical jargon can get pretty confusing, just remember DanceBlue’s slogan: “For the Kids,” otherwise referred to as “FTK.”
DanceBlue is one of the country’s largest student-organized philanthropy events and supports these kids with all of its might. DanceBlue has a lot to offer to UK students, as well, and there are plenty of ways to get involved with the organization.
Signing up as a dancer is the most common way to participate in DanceBlue. To become a dancer, you must join a team participating in the event; most student organizations at UK will have a team! A dancer has the privilege of shaking it all night long, while engaging in super fun activities held every hour for each of the 24 hours.
Not into dancing? That’s completely fine! You can still make a difference by becoming a volunteer. Volunteers are always needed to help serve food, organize bags and keep the event running smoothly. These students are crucial to a successful DanceBlue event.
If volunteering doesn’t fit into your schedule, be sure to stop by the marathon and cheer on the hundreds of dancers at DanceBlue. Everyone appreciates the support of peers and community members, especially in the wee hours of the night. Besides, the best part about coming to watch? You’ll be inspired to get involved in next year’s DanceBlue event!
Valentines Day isn’t the only day to hop on the DanceBlue bandwagon. DanceBlue supports the kids all year long by hosting and participating in various events including UK Athletic events, DanceBlue Blitz Weeks, a 5K run, blood drives, mini dance marathons and much, much more.
Before graduating, be sure to get involved with DanceBlue. It’s a wonderful experience working with incredible people to benefit an even better cause. This year marks a decade of dancing; get involved and participate for the kids!
Check out danceblue.org for more information about the best day of the year. Be sure to follow all DanceBlue social media accounts to get updates on everything DanceBlue.