For the past ten years, the University of Kentucky’s DanceBlue has hosted a 24-hour dance marathon benefiting the Golden Matrix Fund. The Golden Matrix Fund aims to provide support for the patients, families, and staff of the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic. Additionally, half of all money raised for the Golden Matrix Fund goes directly to all types of cancer research. UK students have dedicated much personal time and effort to the crusade against childhood cancer. DanceBlue as an organization strives to focus on the families and patients of the clinic. The support provided because of funds raised is meaningful to both the students and families. The financial support is necessary for the clinic to provide the best treatment possible. Last year through hard work and the generosity of Kentuckians, DanceBlue hosted its ninth marathon at UK, raising over $1 million. Each year, the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic sees about 2,500 patients and is the only facility of its kind in the region. The clinic sees at least one new family each week, 55 percent of which are on Medicaid, a minimal level of coverage when facing the diagnosis of cancer. Almost all children treated at the clinic are entered into clinical trials since, unlike adult cancer, every case is rare and difficult to diagnose and treat.

Students at Ballard High School were inspired by DanceBlue and immediately joined the fight against childhood cancer. Through hosting our own mini dance marathon, appropriately named DanceMaroon, our students are contributing their time and efforts to this great cause as well. All funds raised by Ballard will benefit the same great cause as DanceBlue. This amazing opportunity for high school students is unlike any other in the city. Ballard gets the opportunity to join this great effort in helping not only with important cancer research efforts, but also in impacting lives of individual families daily. We are enthusiastically planning our fifth dance marathon to support DanceBlue and the Golden Matrix Fund. Through the marathon and additional fundraising efforts, DanceMaroon has raised over $110,000. This donation benefits a worthy cause, but also empowers hundreds of high school participants.

While enriching the lives of the children with cancer is our number one priority, the financial issues associated with the treatment of the disease does not go unnoticed. The success of the event is made possible by the charitable contributions and commitments of individuals within the Kentucky community. Here lies another beautiful aspect of both DanceBlue and DanceMaroon – Kentuckians helping to support fellow Kentuckians. The Golden Matrix Fund directly supports the children and families in Kentucky and therefore tangibly affirms the generosity of contributors like you.

I sincerely hope you will take time to contribute to the Golden Matrix Fund through Ballard High School. Any donations you would like to make would be greatly appreciated. If you’d like more information on DanceBlue and the Golden Matrix Fund please see the website at www.danceblue.org. If you are on Facebook or Twitter, check out “Ballard Dance Maroon” for updates on what we are doing here at Ballard. We greatly appreciate your support of DanceMaroon.