Golisano Children's at UK Game-Day Experiences
Golisano Children’s at UK brings special experiences to our young patients through collaborations with our campus and local communities. Through these unforgettable events, our patients get to enjoy game day in a most special way. Past experiences include:
- “Lift Them Up” Kid of the Game with UK Football
- Kid of the Game with UK Basketball
- Excite Night with UK Gymnastics
- Game days with UK Volleyball and UK Women’s Basketball
- Kid of the Game with Lexington Sporting Club
These special game-day opportunities are a chance to encourage and celebrate our patients and their families. Children ages 13 and under are eligible to be nominated. If you would like your child to be considered, please review the rules below and submit our nomination form.
Nominations
- All applicants must have been a patient at Children’s at UK within the last year.
- A patient’s legal guardian must be the one who submits the form.
- Children will be selected for events as they occur. Submitting an application does not guarantee a child will be selected.
Recent game-day experiences
Our 2026-27 experiences are taking shape and will be announced soon. Below are examples of recent experiences our patients and their families have enjoyed.
“Lift Them Up” Kid of the Game
The Lift Them Up Kid of the Game leads the Wildcats down the Cat Walk before each home football game. They do so in a custom-built pushcart and to the sound of Big Blue Nation cheering them on. While that alone would thrill any Wildcats fan, the Cat Walk has been only one aspect of the Lift Them Up experience. Kids and their families hang out with the team in the days leading up to the game – attending practice, touring the locker room and even breaking down the team huddle. After their Cat Walk duties, the kids get to run around on the field before the game, hang out with The Wildcat and Scratch, and meet cheerleaders and dance team members. All of this leads up to their time to shine when they are recognized on the field as the Golisano Children's at UK Kid of the Game during a timeout.
Kid of the Game with UK Men’s Basketball
Attending a game in Rupp Arena is thrilling for any Cats fan, but our littlest members of Big Blue Nation get to see it from a whole other perspective. During select home games, Golisano Children’s patients get to experience a Caturday like no other. Before game day, the kids and their families are invited to attend practice at Rupp Arena as the Cats prepare for their next game. Here, patients get an idea of what really goes on behind the scenes of Kentucky Basketball. On game day, the kids will have an on-court view of the players and coaches during introductions and an up-close view of the team walk-out. All of this leads up to their time to shine when they are recognized on the court as the Golisano Children's Kid of the Game.
Lexington Sporting Club "Player for a Day" Experience
We also collaborate with Lexington Sporting Club (LSC) to bring the joy of soccer to young patients through our "Player for a Day" initiative. This special program gives patients the chance to enter the world of professional soccer – meeting players, participating in team activities, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Patients receive a personalized experience, including a custom LSC jersey, behind-the scenes stadium and locker room access, and an opportunity for pre-match and halftime introductions. This creates community-driven partnership promoting hope and connection.
