Greensburg Salem High School’s Mini-THON committee raised the bar for its fundraising goal during the 2022-23 school year.

The student group hoped to generate $60,000 for the battle against pediatric cancer, an increase of more than $10,000 from the previous year’s campaign.

Ultimately, the charitable effort sailed far over that target following a 12-hour marathon of games, dancing and contests March 25-26 in the school gym.

“This year alone, the Greensburg Salem Mini-THON team raised $71,502.68, bringing our eight-year total to over $325,000,” said Matthew Boe, high school social studies teacher and co-adviser for the student team.

About 300 guests from the community attended during the initial three hours of the Mini-THON, which was open to the public for family-friendly activities. There were board games, a luminary walk, an auction and line dancing lessons, as well as face painting and a bouncy house for younger kids.

More than 120 Greensburg Salem High School students took part in the overnight marathon, and 11 students had their hair cut, donating the tresses to help create wigs for cancer patients.

Underlining the importance of the Mini-THON campaign, participants heard the firsthand accounts of two pediatric cancer survivors: Hempfield Area High School senior Jayme Flock, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma when she was 10, and a Hempfield boy, Alex Vucish, who endured a bout with neuroblastoma. He was accompanied by his mother, Jess.

“Thankfully, both are in remission,” Boe said of the young survivors.

Mini-THON community sponsors and donors were recognized, along with the Greensburg Salem High School seniors on the student leadership team: Aleah Collins, project manager; Madelyn Andolina, community outreach; Sam Spigarelli, finance director; Keegan Murtha, fundraising chair; Laurel Uhlinger, event planner; and Regan Lennert, communications director.

The Greensburg Salem event is modeled after Penn State’s THON, which concludes with a 46-hour dance marathon. Both events raise money for Four Diamonds, a program that covers medical expenses for children with cancer and funds cancer research through Penn State Children’s Hospital.

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