We’re just not quite sure what it will look like at this time.

raiseRED Dance Marathon, UofL’s largest student-run philanthropic organization, is held each February. Hundreds of UofL students participate in the exhaustive 18-hour dance marathon to directly benefit UofL’s Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology. In the past eight years, the event has raised more than $3 million to fight pediatric cancer.

The most recent marathon, , raised a record $690,921.70, eclipsing the previous record set in 2019 of $682,483.71.

Students are passionate about raiseRED, and many spend their entire campus career volunteering for the cause. Now, some even dedicate their time after they’ve graduated. Just last year, a raiseRED Alumni Council to connect the event’s alums with current participants.

Together, their raiseRED efforts extend well beyond that signature 18-hour dance. In the past, raiseRED has held mini marathons to allow local , for example. RaiseRED also hosts blood drives, trivia nights, a talent show and various other fundraisers throughout the year – all efforts to boost that final check unveiled ceremoniously in February.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, things are likely to look different this year. There might not be the signature 18-hour dance, at least not in its traditional format. Mini marathons are out of the question, while other events – for example, the talent show – are moved to a virtual setting.

That has not deterred the dozens of UofL students who volunteer their time for the cause, however. In fact, registration for this year’s raiseRED event, targeted for late February, opens Oct. 19.

Other events in the works (virtual) include:

• Trivia night, Oct. 20
• Day of giving, Oct. 20-21
• Bingo (during Homecoming), Oct. 21

The “25K in a Week” event and raiseRED Talent Show are also in the works for November, though timing specifics remain tentative at this time. Other events, like Dancer Appreciation Day (usually held in January) are also tentative.

What is not uncertain is that our students will find a way to dance somehow, to raise money for this cause – these kids – they are so strongly committed to.

Our students are working through a lot of unknowns right now, all while keeping their focus on that #ForTheKids cause. But there is still an opportunity to get involved and, most importantly, to donate. More information is available online, with updates to come as they’re solidified.

raiseRED has long been a signature UofL event, with more than 1,000 students raising money to fight pediatric cancer during the 18-hour dance marathon and other events during the year. Thus far, the organization has raised nearly $3 million. 

Students are passionate about the cause, often spending their entire college careers volunteering. That passion has continued for many long after graduation and, in fact, a new raiseRED Alumni Council was formally created in the fall of 2019 to connect UofL’s alumni community with current participants.

The objective: To advocate for and advance the mission and vision of raiseRED while providing volunteer mentoring, financial and community support. 

UofL News recently sat down with Alumni Council Chairman Austin Schwenker to find out more about this new group, and what makes raiseRED so special to keep people involved long after graduation. 

UofL News: How many members of the alumni council are there and what are their duties?

Schwenker: Current active membership is around 30 to 40 people who live locally in Louisville, around the commonwealth, and throughout the U.S. and Abroad. The duties may better align with the goals of our council; the most important being a connection and network for members to stay involved and advocate for the advancement of the overall RaiseRED mission and vision. By bringing together a collective group with similar collegiate experiences and passions, our thought is that we can create a greater impact in our communities.

UofL News: Who can join the council?

Schwenker: Membership is open to anyone recognized as an alumni by the office of alumni relations whether they have direct experience with ULDM or RaiseRED — although many and most current members are prior dancers, team leaders, morale captains and eboard members.

UofL News: There are a lot of fundraisers people can choose to support. Why should they choose raiseRED?

Schwenker: First and foremost, 100% of every penny donated to raiseRED goes directly to the UofL Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (“the clinic”). raiseRED […] is the University of Louisville’s largest student-run philanthropic organization, and in the past five years, their efforts have raised over $2.3 million for research and patient needs.

RaiseRED funds research and contributes towards patient needs. This year-long fundraising effort culminates in an 18-hour dance marathon every February to honor the children we fight for. Not only does the organization raise money for the hospital, they build relationships with the families. CARDINAL CREW, a unique program that matches children with our leadership and hosts events that let them just be kids, is just one way this organization makes impacts in the community outside of financial support.

UofL News: Why do you think RaiseRED continues to be so successful?

Schwenker: I think raiseRED is unique where students are actively engaged through the dance marathon where they get to meet the people being helped by their fundraising efforts. We hear over and over how motivating this has been and has pushed dancers to get even more involved in the organization because of the personal connection and impact. 

As for why raiseRED remains so successful, the impact the organization has and the connection the students are able to make with each other, the clinic, kids, patients, families, and that truly differentiates a cause from a mission. So many students year over year align themselves to raiseRED’s mission whether it be because of their personal connection to cancer through a family member, friend, or even sometimes their own experience. By aligning so many invested people to a mission instead of ‘just another cause,’ the support and commitment of those involved goes far beyond this year, this donation, hitting this contribution level. We never want another person to hear, ‘your child has cancer.’ We fight for the kids.

Their collective purpose is singular: raise as much money as possible to fight pediatric cancer and blood disorders. They’re hopeful to beat $682,483, the record-breaking amount collected last year.   

While their passion is palpable, it all means even more to UofL sophomore Tessa Nielsen. This December, Nielsen celebrated 15 years of being cancer free.

When she was three, she was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a rare cancer that forms in soft tissue. She underwent several surgeries and 46 weeks of chemotherapy. She remembers fragments of it, especially the more traumatic moments. And, she recalls going to theme parks in Orlando, Florida, through the Make-A-Wish program.

Now, as a cancer-free college student, she wants to give back so that no children have to undergo a similar experience. 

“I feel like I’m more motivated because I know exactly what the kids are going through and I wouldn’t want anyone to have to go through that if we could prevent it,” she said.

Nielsen still does yearly check-ups at UofL’s clinic where they monitor her health. She knows first-hand the compassionate care patients receive there.

Nielsen transferred to UofL this fall, after attending another state school last year and deciding that being back in Louisville, where she’s from, was a better fit.

“It was absolutely the right decision. I love it here,” she said.

When she transferred, she immediately became excited at the prospect of being involved with raiseRED. She signed up as a dancer and plans to speak at the event. She had spoken at the marathon before when she was a student at Assumption High School and knew how fun and full of energy it is.

“I think it is absolutely fantastic all these students can raise this much money,” she said. “And not all of them even have a personal reason to do it. It’s always so much money, it blows my mind.”

She encouraged everyone to get involved and to join the Community Celebration, Saturday, 10:15 a.m. to noon, which culminates in the grand reveal of the total number of dollars raised.

“Think about all the kids who have to go through chemo or have blood disorders and give to a classmate or a friend,” she said.

McSweeney, 19, has battled Leukemia since he was 5 years old.

“I finally got to come home FOR GOOD!!!” he wrote. “If I’m being completely honest though, these past 8 months were the worst I’d been through and absolute hell.”

But in true McSweeney style, his message quickly transitioned to the positive, and he detailed the brightest moments of his treatment, month by month.  

In July, the Cincinnati Reds gave him a bag of goodies, including a poster signed by the entire team. In October, doctors allowed him to attend a Bengals game, with precautions. In November, despite treatment setbacks that prevented him from going home for Thanksgiving, McSweeney was grateful to share ‘jello junk’ and sweet potato soufflé with his mom in the hospital.

McSweeney’s friends and family say it’s that kind of positivity, courage and drive to beat cancer, and be successful despite it, that defines him and inspires others. And that’s why so many are willing to give to raiseRED in his honor.

is UofL’s largest student run philanthropy and has raised $1.8 million over the last five years to support research and families fighting pediatric cancer and blood disorders.

Last year, McSweeney raised $31,050 for raiseRED with a , and delayed getting his T-Cell treatment in Philadelphia by a week so he could attend the 18-Hour Dance Marathon.

This year, he has raised $8,050 already, and is in the lead, on par again to raise more than any other individual participant in the Dance Marathon, which draws nearly a 1,000 students each year. He said he’s shared online and through social media, encouraging people to give.

“It’s just been awesome,” he said of the response he’s received.

McSweeney says raiseRED means so much to him because he doesn’t want any other kids to have to go through what he has.

“I want to help others, so that no one else experiences what I’ve been through, no one has to relapse six times. One time is enough. They can be cancer free after one time,” he said.

Even though his immune system is still stabilizing from his recent bone marrow transplant, and he’s not allowed in crowds yet, his doctors are permitting him to attend the , with strict precautions.

“They made this one time exception because they know how much it means to me and how much it meant to me last year and what a big deal it is,” he said.  

It’s a big deal too for so many raiseRED participants who are pulling for McSweeney.

 “…Around this time last year, one of my best friends, Patrick McSweeney, who has battled Leukemia on and off for most of his life, relapsed for the sixth time, and I saw his strength and passion, and what raiseRED meant to him, and it became so much more to me,” said UofL sophmore Allyson Fry, in a . “Getting to dance for and alongside kids like Patrick is why I dance.”

McSweeney, who is currently taking classes online, said he’s hopeful to return to campus and his Speed School cohort by this summer and put this long, hard year behind him.

The public is invited to take part in the Dance Marathon’s Community Celebration from 10:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 23 in the SAC, which culminates in the grand reveal of the total number of dollars raised. Kids and families from UofL’s pediatric cancer clinic, who benefit from all the monies raised, will be on hand to celebrate.

will be there too to encourage people to get involved with their mission to treat life-threatening blood cancers, like McSweeney’s, through marrow transplants.