University of Delaware’s UDance 2025 for childhood cancer research April 6

This year’s UDance takes place Sunday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Photo from UDance 2024)

NEWARK – The University of Delaware will host its 19th annual UDance Dance Marathon on April 6 at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The student-run event, which has become the largest of its kind at the university, will bring together thousands of students and supporters for a 12-hour celebration filled with music, entertainment, and fundraising efforts aimed at supporting childhood cancer research and families battling the disease.

This year’s theme, “Experience the Extraordinary,” promises a day full of excitement and inspiration.

Beginning at 9 a.m.and concluding at 9 p.m., the event will celebrate the collective efforts of students who have spent the year raising money for The Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation, a Wilmington-based organization dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research and supporting affected families.

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The theme invites participants to step into a world of wonder where hope, resilience, and community converge, and UD states the dance marathon is not just a day of celebration, but also the culmination of a year-long journey that unites us all in the fight against childhood cancer.

Throughout the event, participants can expect live entertainment, food, a raffle, and the chance to interact with “B+ Heroes,” children who have battled cancer and are supported by the foundation.

The day will also feature a B+ Hero Talent Show, where these young cancer warriors will showcase their talents, and emotional testimonials from childhood cancer survivors and their families.

Funds raised by UDance benefit the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, named in honor of Andrew McDonough, who lost his battle with leukemia in 2007 at the age of 14.

UDance fundraising by year

The foundation, founded by Andrew’s father Joe McDonough, has provided critical funding for cutting-edge cancer research and support for families affected by pediatric cancer.

Joe McDonough, President of the B+ Foundation, expressed his gratitude for the UDance community’s unwavering support.

“The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation would not be able to fund the cutting edge childhood cancer research nor assist thousands of families every year if not for the passionate and dedicated University of Delaware students who are involved in UDance,” he said. “They are literally saving and changing lives. I could not be any more proud of my alma mater.”

As the nation’s fifth-largest college dance marathon, UDance stands as a beacon of hope for families battling childhood cancer. With its combination of fun, community, and giving, UDance is a testament to the power of young people to make a difference.

For more information about UDance or to donate, visit the UDance website here.

Jarek Rutz

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.

Jarek can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.