Happy Blitz Week! My name is Tyler Ward, and I serve as the Operations Chair for DanceBlue 2018. It’s been quite a busy week for DanceBlue, and I hope that throughout the week you have learned more about what it means to be FTK, how to get involved, and have heard about some of the amazing events that we have going on this school year. One event that I am particularly excited about is the 2017 DanceBlue 5K that will take place this Sunday, October 1 on the grounds of Kroger Field!
The first DanceBlue 5K was held in 2011 and, since its founding, the event has grown significantly each year. This growth can only be contributed to the incredible students and faculty at the University of Kentucky, as well as all of the members of the Lexington community who have recognized that the DanceBlue 5K is a fun and easy way to make a difference For The Kids. Last year was the first year that we had the opportunity to host this event at Kroger Field, and we are back again this year for an even bigger race!
The planning process for the 5K began in May and, as my committee and I have worked to bring the event to life, it has been inspiring to see so many individuals asking questions about the 5K, telling their friends and student organizations about it, and, ultimately, registering for it! DanceBlue has worked closely with the Homecoming Coalition, and our event will be the kick-off event to Homecoming Week. Homecoming 2017 is going to be a blast, and I would like to encourage you to check out all of the Homecoming events that will be going on throughout the week of Oct. 1 – 7.
It is a tradition each year for Homecoming to have a theme, and this year, the coalition decided to go with the superhero theme of, “Not All Wildcats Wear Capes.” When I first found out about this theme, I was ecstatic! What theme fits better with DanceBlue’s mission of serving the kids than ‘superheroes’?! The kids are our heroes, and they need to feel that way every single day! With that being said, DanceBlue has worked to incorporate this theme into every possible facet of the 5K. This includes the t-shirts, the promo video, and the logo. We will even be passing out DB superhero capes to the first 450 individuals who come to packet pickup.
Currently, we have over 1,200 participants registered for the race, but we would love to see more! While the deadline for online registration has passed, you can still show up to on-site registration at 10:30 a.m. this Sunday at Kroger Field and sign up. On-site registration will be $30. If you have already registered, we will have packet pickup on Friday, Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Kim Stricker Room (1-49) at the William T. Young Library. Any student who comes to packet pickup on Friday will receive one DanceBlue spirit point.
Race day will be here before we know it, and the best advice that I can give you is to have fun and remember who you are running for. You are running, walking, or flying (if you’re a superhero) FTK! When you start to get tired halfway through the race, remind yourself of the positive impact that you are making by participating in the DanceBlue 5K. To me, DanceBlue is an opportunity to make a huge difference through a series of small actions made by thousands of selfless individuals, and your participation in the DanceBlue 5K is just one of many ways to be the difference. I look forward to seeing you on race day, but until then if you have any questions about the 5K, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] FTK!
