42nd Annual Dancing in the Woods Raises More Than $560,000 For the Melodies Center

Dancing in the Woods raised more than $560,000 for the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center.

In its 42nd year, the region’s premier holiday gala drew nearly 650 people. It was held Dec. 6 at the Riverview Innovation Center in Menands.

This year’s program featured Annika Kilinski, 21, of Ballston Spa; Gabe Donovan, 21, of Albany; and Paul and Tammy Zullo on behalf of their son Tanner Zullo, of Albany, who shared the journeys they and their families had with their diagnoses and treatment. They all expressed their gratitude to the Melodies Center team for helping them navigate the experience with compassion, hope, and joy.

“We are incredibly grateful for the community support that allows us to provide compassionate care to our patients,” said Katharine Halligan, MD, PhD, director of the Melodies Center. “We walk beside these patients and their families every step of the way, and we’re thankful to have the strength of our community alongside us, as well.”

The Melodies Center team includes highly skilled pediatric hematologists and oncologists, nurses, social workers, case managers, child life specialists, and researchers.

Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York was this year’s title sponsor of Dancing in the Woods. The event started as a small holiday gathering in 1983. Since then, the event has raised more than $12 million to support the Melodies Center, which treats patients from 25 counties in northeastern New York and western New England. The center treats more than 1,500 children each year with cancer and blood disorders.