UofL’s raiseRED crew set its most ambitious goal to date this year, targeting $550,000. This number eclipses last year’s amount raised — $459,402.50 — by nearly $100,000. 

UofL students met that goal this year, and then some. A total of $601,381 was raised, surpassing the goal by more than $50,000. 

Patrick McSweeney, a freshman engineering student who delayed his next cancer treatment in Philadelphia by a week so he could take part in the 18-hour dance marathon, raised $29,000 on his own. Read his full story below: 

Patrick McSweeney, a freshman engineering student, wanted to be a part of UofL’s so badly, he delayed his next cancer treatment in Philadelphia by a week so he could be there when it kicks off Feb. 23.

Raising money for pediatric cancer and blood disorders at UofL means that much to him because he learned last month that his own cancer relapsed for the sixth time.

McSweeney, who is 18 now, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, when he was 5 years old. He’s undergone scores of treatments in his lifelong battle, including chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and most recently T-cell treatments. 

“I want to turn this negative situation of relapsing into a positive,” he said. “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 relayed his story in a video he made recently for social media, asking friends, family and fellow students to share it widely and give to raiseRED. His goal was to raise $5,000. In a few short days, he shattered that goal, raising $20,000, more money than anyone else. His new goal is $25,000.

Kristin Johnson, raiseRED operations director and an engineering student, said McSweeney’s story underscores the importance of raiseRED.

“To know that a group of college kids can make this big of a difference in Patrick’s life, and others’ lives, makes me feel like I have a purpose and that I can make a difference,” she said.

In the last five years, raiseRED has become UofL’s largest student-run philanthropy, bringing in more than $1 million, almost half of that from last year alone. The goal this year is $550,000. Nearly 1,000 are expected to dance in the marathon.

“We’ve had incredible growth,” Johnson said.

The impact of raiseRED: suporting research, patients  

Dr. Ashok Raj, UofL’s interim chief, , said the money funds research, such as understanding how myeloid-derived suppressor cells can be a target for cancer immunotherapy.

Raj said cancer research has paid off tremendously as pediatric cancer death rates have declined by nearly 70 percent over the past four decades.

But cancer, brain tumors in particular, remains the leading cause of death from disease among children. The rates of pediatric brain tumors are higher in Kentucky, he said, and as much as 42 percent higher in the Appalachian region of the state.

“The need for our work is even more pronounced locally,” he said.

raiseRED funding also supports direct patient care, including the position of Spencer Moorman, the social worker in the hematology and oncology clinic. Hired in 2015, she helps patients and their families understand their treatment options, connects them with resources, transportation and other needs.

“I know firsthand what a resource that is to have when your child is battling cancer. I don’t know how they did it without her, honestly,” said Dr. Maria Beck, whose 18-year-old daughter Anna-Maria Beck has been a patient since she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at 7 years old.

Maria Beck is quick to explain that, for her family, the best benefit of raiseRED has been participating. Anna-Maria has made countless friends, gained leadership skills and even come to re-frame how she thinks about her disease.

“Meeting the patients and hearing their stories is such an incredibly special part of the event,” Maria Beck said. “The UofL students are so sweet and solicitous. They make such a big deal over the kids, who get on stage to tell their stories. It’s a powerful thing. My favorite part about it is way it makes the patients feel. Cancer can isolate you. Being connected with peers is really important.”

Last year, UofL students involved in raiseRED helped Anna-Maria Beck throw a dance marathon called ValkyrieBEAT at her high school, Sacred Heart, where she raised $25,000.

This month, she’ll have been fighting cancer for 11 years, through 12 brain surgeries. Her tumor is stable; she’s feeling happy and healthy and sees raiseRED as the ultimate celebration.

“I get to advocate for children in February through raiseRED,” she said. “Now my diagnosis anniversary is kind of fun — it’s a party— a celebration of life.”

UofL students who put countless hours into planning and participating in the event say they get more than they give.

This year, the executive board developed a new program, called Patient Pals, where they pair UofL students with patients to be whatever kind of extra support that patient needs, whether it’s encouraging letters or get-togethers.   

Will Lampe, raiseRED programming director and a junior marketing major, was paired with Kaleb, an eighth grade patient. The two connected over Star Wars and have become fast friends.

“raiseRED has made me grow more as a person,” he said. “It’s made me realize what kind of person I want to be.”

Combining the efforts of Norton Cancer Institute and Norton Children’s Hospital, in affiliation with University of Louisville, Norton Children’s Cancer Institute will provide improved access and additional services to care for children fighting cancer. This includes new programs for treating rare tumors and benign blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia, as well as a revamped program for bone marrow transplants.

In addition to offering new types of care, Norton Children’s Cancer Institute has three primary goals:

• Increase the number of clinical trials offered to patients and gain access to new therapies in their earliest stages
• Develop additional groundbreaking research and cutting-edge technology
• Recruit additional hematology/oncology specialists and medical students to improve patients’ access to care.

“We expect Norton Children’s Cancer Institute to be the beacon of hope for families not just in Metro Louisville, but throughout the entire commonwealth,” said Thomas D. Kmetz, division president, Women’s and Children’s Services and Norton Children’s Hospital. “This collaboration will create an even more unified focus on delivering unparalleled cancer care to children fighting this terrible disease.”

“This is our chance for Louisville to become nationally recognized in the world of pediatric cancer research and gain access to the most cutting-edge clinical trials,” said Joseph M. Flynn, DO, MPH, FACP, executive director and physician-in-chief, Norton Cancer Institute. “We see this affiliation as an opportunity to combine our resources and expertise to give kids the best treatment there is.”

The University of Louisville will provide physician support for Norton Children’s Cancer Institute. Norton Healthcare will commit $1 million to UofL per year for pediatric oncology research and physician recruitment, as well as offer leadership and support staff for the institute.

“The relationship between Norton Children’s Hospital and the University of Louisville leading to the creation of Norton Children’s Cancer Institute is to forge a productive collaboration in the battle against childhood cancer,” said Toni Ganzel, MD, MBA, executive dean for the UofL Health Sciences Center. “The within the UofL School of Medicine has been part of one of medicine’s greatest successes in the sharp rise in survival rates of children with cancer.

“With more survivors, there is an urgent need to understand the effect of treatments on the entire body, not just the cancer. With a multidisciplinary approach and comprehensive treatment and support services, Norton Children’s Cancer Institute will have at its core a sense of urgency not only in bringing newer therapies to accelerate childhood cancer survival rates but also to intently focus on the survivors and alert them to potential risks, including serious and sometimes life-threatening complications, as late effects of cancer treatments.”

Within Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, inpatients will continue to be treated at the Addison Jo Blair Cancer Care Center in Norton Children’s Hospital. For outpatients, the institute will occupy the fourth floor of the University of Louisville’s new 170,000-square-foot pediatric medical office building at 401 E. Chestnut St. The facility is still under construction and is expected to be completed in July 2018.

With more than 8,000 pediatric cancer visits each year, Norton Children’s Hospital is home to the country’s oldest children’s oncology program, continually accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer (CoC) since 1959. As the teaching facility for the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Norton Children’s Hospital is dedicated to its mission of serving the children of this community and region.

Learn more about the Norton Children’s Cancer Institute .