SLIDE SHOW: WKU’s 12th Dance Big Red raises over $140K

1/18

Lainey Brennan, 1, squeals as her father Jonathan holds her while her parents share her story of receiving open heart surgery and medical care at Norton Children’s Hospital during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in Western Kentucky University’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

2/18

Western Kentucky University students learn the first section of the group dance during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

3/18

Magnolia Ford, who has undergone two open-heart surgeries and received treatment from Norton Children’s Hospital, sings “Let It Go” from the Disney movie “Frozen” as Western Kentucky University students wave flashlights on their phones during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in the Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

4/18

Western Kentucky University junior Dahlia Sooter cheers as the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital kicks off in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

5/18

Magnolia Ford, who has undergone two open-heart surgeries and received treatment from Norton Children’s Hospital, sings “Let It Go” from the Disney movie “Frozen” for Western Kentucky University students during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in the Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

6/18

Magnolia Ford, who has undergone two open-heart surgeries and received treatment from Norton Children’s Hospital, sings “Let It Go” from the Disney movie “Frozen” as Western Kentucky University students wave flashlights on their phones during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in the Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

7/18

Western Kentucky University students on the Blue Team cheer as their superhero kid, Graycyn Poland, 11, from Scottsville, arrives for the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

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Graycyn Poland, 11, from Scottsville, flashes a huge smile as Western Kentucky University students on the Blue Team cheer for her during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

9/18

Hundreds of Western Kentucky University students gather in the Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center for the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

10/18

Molly Ann Daniel (right) of Norton Children’s Hospital leads the lighting of the Memorial Candle for Norton children who have passed away at the start of the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon in the Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

11/18

Shelby Brown, 13, of Bowling Green walks in to cheers from Western Kentucky University students at the start of the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in the Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

12/18

Western Kentucky University students on the Green Team cheer for their superhero kid, Lainey Brennan, as her parents share her story of receiving open heart surgery and medical care at Norton Children’s Hospital during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

13/18

Hundreds of Western Kentucky University students gather in the Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center for the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

14/18

Hundreds of Western Kentucky University students gather in the Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center for the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

15/18

Western Kentucky University students learn the first section of the group dance during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

16/18

Western Kentucky University students learn the first section of the group dance during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

17/18

Western Kentucky University students learn the first section of the group dance during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon benefiting Norton Children’s Hospital in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. The WKU students raised $141,555.32 for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)

18/18

Western Kentucky University students reveal that $141,555.32 was raised for pediatric cardiovascular services and pediatric cancer care at Norton Children’s Hospital during the 12th annual Dance Big Red dance marathon in WKU’s Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Photo provided by Dana Warder) (Photo provided by Dana Warder)