CHS Helps DanceBlue 2025 raise record-breaking $2.3 million, celebrate 20 years of hope
By Ryan Clark and Hayden Gooding
CHS Contributors
When Hannah Talley saw the number, she almost couldn’t believe it.
This year’s DanceBlue fundraising total was $2,305,274.20 — an all-time record. And it means that since 2006, DanceBlue has raised more than $25 million, as they put it, “for the kids.”
As a student-run philanthropy at the University of Kentucky, DanceBlue raises funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer while supporting patients and families affected by it. Funds raised by DanceBlue support the DanceBlue Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
And the College of Health Sciences helps in many ways. Many faculty, staff and students participated in the event, and this year, the Overall Chair was Hannah Talley, a senior Human Health Sciences major (Pre-Physician Assistant Studies) from Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday night, more than 600 University of Kentucky students danced or stood inside Historic Memorial Coliseum for nearly 24 hours in solidarity with the patients and families of the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
This year, severe weather forced the marathon to end two hours earlier than the traditional 24 hours. The dancers still made the most of the waning hours of the no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon.
“DanceBlue is so important because of all the clinic kids we get to bring joy to,” Talley said. “It’s a powerful feeling to see hundreds of college students unite to serve one mission and watch all our efforts come out in this final number, knowing it will help those who need it most.”
DanceBlue was founded in 2006 in memory of clinic patient Jarrett Mynear. His final request to his parents was to do something to help the clinic.
“Seeing DanceBlue turn 20 is surreal to us,” said Jennifer Mynear, a founder of DanceBlue, and mother of Jarrett Mynear. “We’ve never doubted the students’ hearts, dedication and commitment, but we didn’t dream the levels that they would take it to were even possible. We are forever grateful to the thousands of students who have been a part of this dream.”
After 20 years of dancing for the kids, DanceBlue continues to spread joy to those fighting, honor the lives lost and celebrate every victory until children no longer have to fight against pediatric cancer.
“DanceBlue has become more than a student organization; it’s a campus-wide movement, showing what can be accomplished when you commit to change as a group with a focus,” Mynear said. “In the 20 years since the students adopted this mission, DanceBlue has raised awareness and impactful amounts of money, and the Kentucky Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Department has gone from being a small clinic without a multidisciplinary support team to being one of the top five pediatric oncology programs for its size nationally.”
But reaching the 20-year milestone wouldn’t be possible without the community support each year.
“The community support is crucial to everything DanceBlue does,” Talley said. “We are not only an organization for the university, but we are also an organization for the entire state of Kentucky. We’re so thankful for our community that helps us fundraise and spread awareness all year long. It all goes toward supporting the legacy of Jarrett Mynear.”
For more information on this year’s marathon or how you can get involved next year, visit DanceBlue.org.