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.

Whenever her attention waned, Catherine Ehlman, her patient pal through  organization, was there to find another way to make her smile, like having her pose for pictures with funny props.

Johnson even earned a grin-inducing award: most likely to wear pink.

For Johnson and her family, attending the RaiseRED Kids Prom was a hard-won treat.

She’s been at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, for the last seven months undergoing treatment for medulloblastoma, the most common cancerous brain tumor in children. After numerous rounds of radiation, chemo and two surgeries, she’s now cancer free.

“We’re new to RaiseRED, but appreciate the other families involved,” said her mom, Kiara Johnson. “When you’ve been through something like this, it’s super important to find people who get it.”

RaiseRED is UofL’s largest student-led philanthropy organization, raising more than $1.8 million in the last five years for the .

While many have heard of , a high-profile event which draws nearly 1,000 students, they may not realize that RaiseRED is busy throughout the year too, holding smaller fundraisers and supporting families of the clinic with events like Kids Prom and the patient pal program. 

Now in its third year, the patient pal program pairs two UofL students with a child at the clinic. Kind of like pen pals, they stay in touch through texts and emails, and get together for movies, UofL ball games and other fun activities. There are 23 such pairs.

Ehlman, a junior majoring in elementary and special education, said she got involved because she loves working with kids.

“I feel blessed to be part of it,” she said.

Sporting a necktie around his head, Jake Devine, a sophomore civil engineering student, coaxed his patient pal Logan Collins to the dance floor. He had the 8-year-old leukemia survivor goofing off in no time.

“He’s got stars in his eyes for these guys, they’re super heroes to him,” said Josh Collins, Logan’s dad.

Josh Collins said the family has been involved with RaiseRED since Logan was diagnosed at 3 years old.

“All the money goes directly to the clinic where he received most of his treatment,” Josh Collins said. “They cure cancer.”

The family also has two other sons, who are teenagers, and the students involved with RaiseRED are great role models for them, he added.  

“It inspires us,” he said. “Our teens see the efforts these guys put into this community service. It’s a life lesson for the whole family, really.”

David Turner, Jr., a 7-year-old with a cancerous tumor on his brain stem, took turns dancing with his mom and dad, all of them dressed to the nines.

“I’m very grateful for the program and the money it raises,” said his mom, Elizabeth Turner.

According to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, only 4 percent of federal cancer research funding goes to study pediatric cancer. She said that lack of federal funding makes RaiseRED dollars all the more important.

She said the family uses services that RaiseRED funds all the time, and they particularly appreciate the help of Spencer S. Moorman, the clinic’s social worker. RaiseRED funds her position.

“We couldn’t get the help we need without her,” she said.

The Turners, like most of the families, are hopeful to attend the Dance Marathon this year, slated for 6 p.m. Feb. 22-12 p.m. Feb. 23. Throughout the night, there are a variety of high-energy games, activities and team competitions.

The best part, they say, is that the kids are the stars of the show.

With a quick smile, Ashtyn Johnson said she’ll be there and she already had her pink outfit picked out.