The University of Louisville’s student-led philanthropic organization, raiseRED, held its annual dance marathon fundraising event in February, resulting in $533,902.79 raised.
The funds will benefit Norton Children’s Cancer Institute and the UofL Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation.
The 18-hour event brings the community together for a culminating celebration with several activities throughout the night. This year engaged over 750 people from students to doctors. A significant part of the event was the involvement of 41 raiseRED families, who are supported by the beneficiary organizations. Eighteen of those families were able to join the celebration in person.
Among the participants was Sophie Boguszewski, a junior special education major in the College of Education and Human Development and a dedicated raiseRED staff member. Sophie’s connection to the cause is deeply personal. As a childhood cancer survivor herself, she understands firsthand the critical importance of the research and support raiseRED provides.
“With raiseRED, I built a lot of skills in advocacy, and learning to fight for what I believe is right when it comes to kids with pediatric cancer — it bleeds into working with kids and special education,” she said. “I have to fight for them as well.”
The 2025 fundraising total brings the cumulative amount raised by raiseRED to over $5.5 million since its inception.
Watch Sophie’s full interview:
