UDance tops $1.8M in fight against childhood cancer

University of Delaware students raised $1,890,337.16 for childhood cancer Sunday, taking to their feet for 12 hours to show their support against the pediatric disease.

This year's theme, "wild about finding a cure," turned the Bob Carpenter Center into a jungle for the annual 12-hour dance marathon, UDance, filled with college students, local residents and families of The B+ Foundation. The Wilmington-based charity was founded in honor of Andrew McDonough, who lost his battle to leukemia at the age of 14 in 2007.

The nearly 2,200 families served by the foundation benefit from the support of year-round fundraising and events to honor children fighting this disease. Sunday's daylong dance marathon serves as a culmination of these fundraising efforts, bringing together hundreds of students to dance, listen and support these children and their parents.

"The best way to describe [UDance] is magic," said UD senior Elizabeth Bell, director of the public relations team for UDance. "The lights, the energy, it just radiates positivity. ... UDance is hope for the future."

Drew Koenig, who will celebrate his 13th birthday on St. Patrick's Day, got to experience this energy firsthand Sunday, as he accepted a one-day contract with the NBA Development League's Delaware 87ers and his own custom jersey onstage at UDance. Drew has been a B+ Hero since he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in 2008, fighting his battle with the support of his UD-paired organization, Alpha Delta Pi.

Drew sported his new yellow-and-blue jersey, emblazoned with his name, around the family area Sunday after accepting his new award. He said he plans to wear it to school and maybe even play a few hoops in his new sports gear.

"This atmosphere and everyone coming together is really special," said his mother, Catherine Koenig.

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The family was approached by The B+ Foundation's president Joe McDonough shortly after Drew was diagnosed, giving the family support in their battle with the disease. Since then, it's been hard to stay away from the annual marathon where Drew gets to reunite with his support group of sorority sisters and see his friends.

"[Joe McDonough] came in after Drew was diagnosed," Catherine Koenig said. "It was just warm, welcoming support. They were always there for us no matter what we needed."

And with continued fundraising from students, UDance hopes to end childhood cancer completely. The B+ Foundation not only supports families, but research into what causes pediatric cancer and how to stop it.

Last year, UDance raised more than $1.7 million – a total that has continued to grow since UDance began in 2007.

"We are truly showing these children that there is a team rallying behind them and that we are not going to let this battle beat them," Bell said. "We, as a community, as a university, are going to beat the battle."

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.