Hampton’s Talbot Thon benefits pediatric cancer research

For every $100 the U.S. government spends on cancer research, just $4 goes specifically toward treatment for children.

The disparity, as reported by the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, is of particular relevance to Hampton High School senior Halee Pilarski.

She lost her younger brother, Will, to brain cancer in 2017.

“While he was in the hospital, the doctors were constantly talking about different treatment options that they were testing out in order to try to find something that would help him,” Halee says in a video she produced. “However, with these new treatment options comes a need for more fundraising.”

Her video promotes the high school’s effort in that regard: the annual Talbot Thon, scheduled for March 22 to benefit UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh pediatric cancer treatment and research. The student council is partnering with Pitt Dance Marathon to organize the event and has the goal of raising $30,000.

“When you think of Talbot Thon, you may think of the volleyball games or maybe the dodgeball tournaments,” Halee says about some of the activities featured each year. “Maybe you were there to hang out with your friends, or maybe you were there for the food trucks.”

She wants everyone who participates to realize the toll that pediatric cancer takes, with an estimated 400,000-plus new cases affecting children worldwide.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14, according to the American Cancer Society, and about 1,040 children under age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2024.

“So why is the number of deaths so high? There are many different reasons, but one of the main reasons is a combination between the cost of testing and the lack of funding,” Halee explains. “For example, the median cost of developing one single cancer drug was $648 million.”

For Talbot Thon, community hours are from 5-7 p.m. at the high school for all Hampton families and community members. Guests can enjoy:

• Food trucks — Let’s Taco ’Bout It, South Side BBQ, The Coop

• Basket raffle — more than 20 baskets valued at $150 minimum

• Kids Zone — games and prizes, photo booth, bounce house

• Performances: High school performing and fine arts students

“Your fundraising is needed in order to save the lives of children who are fighting their battle every day, to take the worry out of the lives of so many who are wondering when their child will take their last breath, and to help the experts be able to find a cure for pediatric cancer, once and for all,” Halee says. “Do it for the kids.”

For more information and to view Halee’s video, visit www.ht-sd.org/community/district-events/talbot-thon.