On Wednesday, November 11 at 3:00 pm, Southern Lehigh students and teachers met on Spartan grounds to snap, sack, and attack pediatric cancer. Each team consisted of five players that held determination to compete for first place in a flag football tournament.

Hosted by coordinators of mini-THON, this event took place in order to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund. The coordinators of mini-THON have been working diligently to reach their fundraising goal of 10,000 dollars. Through their very first official fundraiser, the flag football tournament, coordinators of mini-THON raised approximately 500 dollars and successfully spread the word about the good that is being done through mini-THON.

Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) is an event that raises money and awareness for pediatric cancer. All funds that are made are given to the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. This money covers medical expenses of the patients so that the family does not receive a bill.

THON is known as the largest student-run philanthropy (the greek word that means “love of humanity”). It requires a lot of energy. 46 hours, no sitting, no sleeping, just dancing and fun (and for a good cause, too).

“THON is the biggest adrenaline rush that you will ever experience, you can really feel the energy of the student body filling the [room],” instructional aide Ms. Lindsay Horvath, who was involved in THON all four of her years at Penn State, said.  “It’s just a huge event where the entire student body comes together, and within those 46 hours everyone becomes family.”

Modeled after THON, mini-THON will last for twelve hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on April 2, 2016. There will be many activities throughout the day to appeal to various students and people of the community.

“The more that students participate, the more good that we can do for the community,” junior Sam Quilty, a coordinator of mini-THON said.

Junior Justine Groeber, Overall-Head of Mini-THON, has been hard at work as she advertises for this event. The ambition of the coordinators is admirable, seeing as they aim to host a fundraiser every month.

“I just really hope that a lot of  [people] get involved and realize that it’s a really great cause,” Groeber said, “The more money we raise, the better because we are giving it to someone that really needs it.”