When Sally Martin was a Junior at Apollo High School, she was part of a student committee that plans a marathon and raises money for DanceBlue, an organization that creates funds to support those with pediatric cancer. She describes Melissa Jarboe, her advisor, as instrumental to Apollo’s DanceBlue and developing numerous student leaders over the years. Through her inspiration, Martin realized that her involvement with the organization would extend beyond high school.
“Being a part of DanceBlue was the best decision ever,” Martin said. “My Junior and Senior year at Apollo was filled with the magic of DanceBlue and I knew it couldn’t stop at graduation.”
When Martin started college at the University of Kentucky, DanceBlue was the first thing on her mind. She was able to be on the floor for the 2017 Marathon with her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, and didn’t stop there. She served as the Merchandise Coordinator her Sophomore Year, then as the Alumni Coordinator her Junior Year, and now she currently served as the Overall Chair where she leads 9 Chairs, 34 Coordinators, and 100+ Committee Members.
“There are few ways in life to make a difference as a teenager and throughout your early 20’s,” Martin said. DanceBlue’s success is contingent on humility, passion, and selflessness of high school and college students to fight for kids they may never meet but would do anything for.”
2019 marks DanceBlue’s 15th year, which Martin believes speaks to the dedication of thousands of students who want to work for something they know is bigger than themselves. She says she wants to be a part of a group that finds purpose in something both simple and significant; from posting on Instagram about the DanceBlue 5K to standing for the kids for 24 hours.
“What I love most about my job is getting to watch our entire campus and the entire state come together to share the same goal: fight pediatric cancer,” Martin said. “On Tuesdays, I get to volunteer in the DanceBlue Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital, a Clinic that DanceBlue fully funds, where I hang out with some of the coolest kids I’ll ever know.”
During her visits, Martin says she paints, plays board games, tells jokes, and just helps children forget about the chemo they’re getting or the port being accessed. The kids fuel her passion with their laughter, love, humor, and light they shine despite fighting a battle that no child should ever have to face.
“If bursting into an exam room with handfuls of Play-Doh and a smile on my face means that a patient doesn’t have to think about missing school or just being a normal kid, I would do it every day,” Martin said.
The main event that encapsulates DanceBlue’s mission is the 24-hour dance marathon. While one may not dance the entire time, only during the line dance at the top of each hour, they will stand for the entire time. Throughout this event, thousands of students, friends, family members, community members, donors, and alumni come to show their support.
“Few events can bring people from all walks of life together in today’s world…but DanceBlue can and will until the day when a cure for cancer is found,” Martin said.
Due to her involvement and leadership with DanceBlue, Martin was nominated for Homecoming Court a few weeks ago at the University of Kentucky. After this, she was elected to be one of the 5 Queen Candidates, which is an incredible honor. The Royalty Court is made up of students from across campus organizations that exhibit qualities such as service, academic success, involvement, and commitment to the University of Kentucky. Each candidate will perform at the Royalty Showcase on Monday, Oct. 7th and the King and Queen will be announced at halftime of the UK vs Arkansas Football Game on Oct. 12th.
For more information visit: http://www.danceblue.org/, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. Any donations to DanceBlue can be made here. Visit Apollo High School’s Mini DanceBlue’s information here.
