Hundreds of State College middle school students will gather at Park Forest Middle School on Friday to spend a night of dancing and games at the annual State College Mini-THON.
Like the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Council Dance Marathon, the Mini-THON raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Medical Center to support pediatric cancer patients and their families. Since its inception in 2009, the local Mini-THON has raised $266,000.
“Thanks to the contributions made by THON and Mini-THONs, no child diagnosed with cancer at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital has ever been turned away by Four Diamonds,” State College Mini-THON advisor Nanci Rommel said.
Last year, 300 students from Mount Nittany, Park Forest and Delta middle schools raised $68,000. They’ll look to top that at this year’s no-sitting event themed ‘Discover the Diamonds,’ which goes from 5 p.m. to midnight. Students raise money for the effort throughout the year
The Mini-THON program began statewide in 1993, and has raised $17 million. Penn State THON has raised $136 million since partnering with the Four Diamonds Fund in 1977.
The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital helps families affected by pediatric cancer offset costs from cancer treatment not covered by health insurance as well as food, housing and travel expenses. The fund also supports a medical team comprised of pediatric oncologists, a music therapist, nutritionist, nurses, a psychologist, researchers and hospital staff members such as child life specialists and social workers.
