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The 2024 DanceBlue marathon, which began at 8 p.m. Saturday, saw more than 800 University of Kentucky students dance inside Rupp Arena for 24 hours, standing in solidarity with the patients and families of the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic.

Participants celebrated this year’s record-breaking DanceBlue fundraising total of $2,129,952.87. With this year’s total, DanceBlue has now raised more than $22 million “for the kids” since it began in 2006.

Many dancers on the floor this weekend spent their entire school year fundraising and attending DanceBlue events to gain spirit points to secure their place on the floor of the 24-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon.

“The marathon is a heartwarming sight,” said Caroline Summer, DanceBlue 2024 overall chair and a UK senior studying neuroscience. “It’s hard to put into words, but it really is so much more than an organization or another fundraiser. It’s a way of life, we spread joy.”

Normally, the marathon is held at Memorial Coliseum. This year, due to ongoing renovations, dancers moved all night long on the floor of Rupp Arena.

DanceBlue was founded in 2006 in memory of clinic patient Jarrett Mynear, who used to be seen around central Kentucky with “Jarrett’s Joy Cart,” before he passed away. His final request to his parents was to do something to help the clinic.

“Our goal is to inspire hope and keep fighting until every single kiddo triumphantly rings the bell,” said Sumner. “In the meantime, we do everything we can to support them. Jarrett Mynear said it best, ‘In a moment of joy there is healing,’ and DanceBlue really is the embodiment of joy.”

After 19 years of standing 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.

For more information on this year’s marathon, or how you can get involved for next year’s event, you can go to DanceBlue.org.