The Apollo High School chapter of the Beta Club is hosting a University of Kentucky “DanceBlue” marathon to raise money for pediatric cancer research the Markey Cancer Center and to support the newly named DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
The AHS marathon is scheduled from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, in the Apollo gymnasium. Event rules include “no sitting, no sleeping,” so throughout the evening, AHS students will actively participate in dancing, playing games and dedicating their time and efforts to support children and families served by the DanceBlue Clinic. Each hour of the evening features a different theme for music and games. Among other activities, students will have the opportunity to write messages of encouragement and make a tie-blanket to send to children at the hospital.
Local businesses are supporting this event by donating dinner for marathon participants. More than 20 businesses have already made donations for this event. Businesses, organizations, clubs and individuals who wish to contribute support or donations may do so by contacting Melissa Jarboe at Apollo High School (contact information included below).
Apollo High School is the first high school in western Kentucky to host a mini-marathon in conjunction with the Lexington campus of the University of Kentucky’s DanceBlue marathon. Participants include students from Apollo High School, Burns Middle School and College View Middle School. Volunteers working at the AHS event include Apollo graduates, UK students and members of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
“DanceBlue is a student-run philanthropy, in which the students organize, plan and fundraise everything in order to host the event,” Jarboe said. “Our students are learning valuable and professional life lessons for an altruistic purpose that is all For The Kids!”
Over the past nine years, DanceBlue marathons have raised more than $6.5 million. For more information, visit www.danceblue.org
