Hempfield Area seniors eager to raise money at Mini-THON

After a roughly five-year hiatus, Mini-THON is making a comeback at Hempfield Area High School.

In March, 180 seniors will dance for 12 hours in the field house during the no-sitting event that raises money to fight pediatric cancer.

Hempfield Area senior Ella Jones is organizing the event after attending Greensburg Salem’s Mini-THON for years.

“I had always admired the program,” Jones said. “I wanted to create something my senior year … and when I stumbled across this idea, it felt right.”

Jones and her friends began planning Hempfield’s Mini-THON in April. The dance marathon will be March 3.

Mini-THON is the K-12 arm of Penn State THON, the largest student-run philanthropic organization in the world. THON raises money to benefit Four Diamonds, a Hershey-based charitable organization that aims to end childhood cancer.

“It’s not about you,” said Mini-THON social media coordinator Mikayla Strane. “It’s about something else greater than you.”

Hempfield seniors in groups of 10 signed up to dance, play games and interact with friends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be times when other students and community members can attend the event, too.

Participants also will hear from a Hempfield Area student who had cancer and several parents of children with cancer during the Mini-THON.

After the dance marathon, the seniors will announce how much money they raised for THON.

Fundraising began months ago, and efforts have included canning trips in and around Greensburg, a “gold-out” T-shirt sale for a football game against Greater Latrobe, a color run and a “Dig for Diamonds” volleyball tournament in collaboration with Greensburg Salem.

In the upcoming months, students will do numerous donor drives.

The dancers also can raise money through their choice of sponsor. Community sponsors donate money, while faculty sponsors donate time.

“It’s a way to be competitive and have fun while raising money for a good cause,” said Mini-THON finance director Logan Eisaman.

Mini-THON community liaison Matt Dugan looks forward to seeing everyone enjoying themselves at the event, especially during a generally less eventful part of the school year.

“I’m excited to see everyone having fun,” he said.

Months after preparations began, Mini-THON event planner Emma Forrester is eager to see the marathon unfold.

“It’s very rewarding seeing everything come into one place on the day of,” she said.

Those who wish to donate to Hempfield Area’s Mini-THON can do so on the Four Diamonds website.

English and STEM literacy teacher Ashley Testa is serving as the Mini-THON’s teacher adviser.