Dance for a Cause at PW's Mini-THON
This April, PWHS will host its first mini-THON to spread cancer awareness and raise money for the Four Diamonds hospital in Hershey, PA.
November 2015
Lizzie Stricklin '17
Get ready to break out your best dance moves – for a good cause.
For the first time in our school’s history, PW will be hosting mini-THON, a ten-hour dance marathon designed to raise money to fight childhood cancer. PW’s mini-THON will be based off of THON, a program originally created by Penn State students in 1973. Penn State’s THON consists of yearlong fundraising which culminates in an annual 48-hour dance marathon in February. In 2014, THON raised $13.34 million to donate to fighting pediatric cancer.
PW students hope to do their part in the fight against cancer by hosting a mini-THON of our own. Student Council, Cancer Awareness Club, and other PW organizations are coming together to plan this dynamic event. Mini-THON will take place in the new cafeteria on Saturday, April 2 from 12-10 PM. Revenues from the event will raise money for Four Diamonds, a childhood cancer hospital and research center in Hershey. These donations will either be used to support a family at the hospital or to support research for a cure.
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“Childhood cancer is such a prevalent issue in today’s society, and many people around the world and even in PW experience the hardships that are associated with the disease,” says junior Lauren Kim, co-chair of mini-THON with Chris Johnson (‘17) and Alexa Augustine (‘16). “Through mini-THON, we hope to raise awareness to ensure that one day, cancer will be a distant memory.”
Why participate in mini-THON? To answer that question, one needs only to take a look at mini-THON’s motto: FOR THE KIDS. “Everything we do is ultimately FOR THE KIDS,” says Kim. By participating in mini-THON, students have the opportunity to donate their time to a great cause while having lots of fun with their friends and fellow students.
Unlike popular belief, students will not be required to dance for ten hours straight. The only requirement is that students refrain from sitting down during the event – dancing will still be an option, but there will be plenty of other activities to pass the time, such as face painting, ZUMBA, or listening to live music. “The concept is that the meager ten hours that we stand is nothing compared to the pain that a cancer patient experiences every day,” Kim explains.
There is still much planning that needs to be done before the cafeteria can open its doors to mini-THON in April. Students can email [email protected] to get involved with the various committees, such as art, marketing, and finance. Students can also follow @pwminithon on Twitter and Instagram to get updates on meetings.
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Mini-THON Fast Facts
When: Saturday, April 2, 2015 12:00-10:00 PM Where: New PWHS cafeteria Why: To raise money for Four Diamonds hospital and spread cancer awareness Contact: [email protected] @pwminithon |
This will be an exciting new experience for PW, and through the cooperation of multiple clubs and students of various backgrounds, mini-THON will certainly bring the school together in an event to be remembered. “PW is a great school,” Kim concludes, “and through mini-THON, we can give back to the community.”