4,000 families helped, $157 million raised, 16,500 student volunteers. THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, has had overwhelming success raising money for childhood cancer since its start in 1973.

Based off of Penn State’s 46-hour dance marathon called THON, Mini-THONs are a shorter version of THON that take place at high schools across the nation. THON’s funds are dedicated “to [providing] emotional and financial support, [spreading] awareness and [ensuring] funding for critical research – all in pursuit of a cure” (THON).

Last year, 283 schools across the country held a Mini-THON. Dallastown Area Senior High School was one of those 283.

All of the fundraisings from both Mini-THON and THON are donated to Four Diamonds, an organization created to help families affected by childhood cancer. 

The motto used for THON, Mini-THON, and Four Diamonds is FTK: For The Kids.

This year, Dallastown’s fifth Mini-THON will be held from 7 p.m. on March 1 to 7 a.m. on March 2. Students commit to raise money for Four Diamonds and to stay standing for the 12 hour time period. Event planners aim to plan activities for the evening that will keep those in attendance awake and excited.

Every year Dallastown hopes to create a better Mini-THON than the last, in order to bring in more students and donations. New events, as well as old, will bring a new version of a Dallastown Mini-THON this 2018-2019 school year.

Alexa Fisher, Dallastown senior, is definitely looking forward to this years Mini-THON, as she is the Overall Chair of the Event.

Fisher has been involved in Mini-THON throughout all of high school. Her freshman year, she attended her first Mini-Thon. Sophomore year, Fisher was part of the Entertainment committee. Then she took a big step, junior year Fisher Co-Chaired the morale committee. Lastly, as a senior, Fisher currently has the highest position a student can have, the Overall Chair of Mini-THON.

Working side by side, Fisher and Overall Advisor, Mrs. Werner, are already hard at work for this year’s Mini-THON.

Werner, a Dallastown alumnus, class of 1998, and a Penn State graduate, is looking forward to her fifth year as Overall Advisor. Other than running the school’s Mini-THON, Werner has also been teaching Phys. Ed., CPR/First Aid/AED, and Athletic Training for 16 years at Dallastown Area Senior High School.

Werner says that her responsibilities as the Overall Advisor include “making sure that the student chairs of the committees have their respective committees on task [and] filling out paperwork to reserve all the facilities that [Mini-THON] [needs] for the night of.”

Both Fisher and Werner are very excited for this years on-stage magician, a version of the “newlywed game,” and one of Fisher’s ideas from sophomore year that she has been waiting for, a mini-golf course!

A junior who has attended both Mini-THONs so far, Liana Hoffman, is especially excited about “the dogs returning this year, as well as all the local businesses catering food.”

Fisher explains just how excited she is about this years Mini-THON and everything incorporated into the “Carnival For A Cure” theme. A cotton candy machine, carnival games, a hall of mirrors, and more will definitely set the scene of a carnival.

“Our goal this year is $75,000 (last year’s goal was $60,000),” Fisher says. Fortunately, several events have already taken place in order to start the fundraising early.

Committee members conducted car washes and canning last summer. In the fall, they tackled a Gold Out football game featuring BEAT CANCER t-shirt sales as well as their annual Homecoming Dress Drive and Sale. 

Through the months of November and December, Mini-THON hosted a paint night, a silent auction with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Four Diamonds, and a gift wrapping event at the school. Christmas caroling through local neighborhoods was scheduled for December 20, but due to weather, it was cancelled.

Fundraising for a Dallastown Mini-THON starts right after the previous one ends, which is why Dallastown has such a high goal for every year.

“Mini-THON is held in March, the new committees are selected in late April, and by May we were already attending elementary May Days and planning a Handel’s night,” Special Events committee adviser Miss Gable said.

Werner’s favorite part of Mini-THON is “meeting the Four Diamonds families and hearing how they are doing and their stories and always, the REVEAL!”

This year’s Dallastown Mini-THON is approaching quickly. Students interested in attending can get more information in registration packets located outside of room 311, in the gym, or front lobby. 

To attend Mini-THON, students must raise a minimum of $50 for Four Diamonds but are encouraged to raise more, because as Werner said, “It’s all For The Kids.”