If you scroll through the notes app on my phone, somewhere between the forgotten Kroger grocery lists and reminders I wrote down and never remembered, you’ll find a note from March 3, 2019.
That’s because, in the days leading up to DanceBlue 2019, I decided that I was going to try to jot down some of my thoughts each hour of the marathon while I was on the floor of Memorial Coliseum, as a way to reflect on all that happened during DB19.
This past year was my second year dancing and fundraising for DanceBlue, and my first year as a team captain, so you could say that I was a little more prepared coming into this one (I made sure to bring more socks this time).
I’m proud to say that I started off strong and stuck with my plan for the first few hours of the marathon, and, looking back now, the notes I wrote myself are actually kind of funny. Here’s a little window into what I was thinking when we kicked things off:
8:29 p.m. – Here we go y’all, DB19 is on! FTK ALL DAY
8:43 p.m. – Uhh it is hot in here. Where are the fans?
9:06 p.m. – I am very confused about this dance. I have no idea what I am doing, but I am a big fan of “High Hopes”.
10:25 p.m. – First bag check means new socks and a banana (Potassium is key for dancing).
12:14 a.m. – WOOOOOO! We are into tomorrow! Bag check number two means a whole new set of clothes. I think I am kind of learning this dance now? Maybe? We’ll get there eventually.
1:20 a.m. – My friends came to visit, so that was cool. This Gatorade hits DIFFERENT.
2:17 a.m. – PIZZA WOOO
5:24 a.m. – I think I might’ve died during those last three hours, but it’s RAVE HOUR!
6:29 a.m. – My legs are going to fall off, but Morale Group 19 is lit.
9:46 a.m. – Got some coffee. Feeling rejuvenated. Thank you, Nick Joseph.
10:41 a.m. – That massage was the best thing that has ever happened in my life.
1:38 p.m. – Tia and Nora are really wearing shark costumes right now. I love this place.
Then somewhere after 1:38 p.m., I forgot to keep taking notes. But here’s the next thing I wrote down:
Uhh…I guess I forgot about this. It’s 4:28 p.m. and time really flies when you’re having fun. This is all crazy, but I love DanceBlue, UK, and these people. Everyone here is doing so much for the kids, and I could not be more proud than I am right now.
I think somewhere in those three hours between 1:38 p.m. and 4:28 p.m. is when I decided that I needed to do more for DanceBlue and apply to be on Committee. The past two years fundraising and dancing in DanceBlue have shown me just how important it really is. When you’re standing there on the floor of Memorial Coliseum, it’s easy to see how much all of this means to the kids and families that make up the DanceBlue Clinic. I’ve seen through personal experiences that fighting cancer is never an easy fight, and most of the time it doesn’t even seem like a fair fight. So, that’s where we come in.
Simply put, DanceBlue puts smiles on the faces of the kids facing a hard time, and that’s why I decided I needed to be on Morale Committee for DB20. I’m so excited to be playing a bigger role in making DanceBlue a success this year, and I’m even more excited to help produce a few more smiles in the fight against pediatric cancer! Let’s get to work!
